Manager, Manufacturing Optimization
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 4, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 30, 2026. Anduril Industries scores B on the Alion truth index.
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Manufacturing Operations Team plays a vital role in driving operational excellence and delivering high-quality products that support Anduril's mission of advancing defense capabilities.
ABOUT THE JOB
We are seeking a Manufacturing Optimization Manager to support in the development and deployment of the Anduril Production System (APS) to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across our manufacturing sites in the US. This role will work closely with manufacturing/production leadership teams to develop, implement, and sustain lean manufacturing systems, coach frontline leaders, and build tools to help drive operational performance in the business.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing operations and would have held roles leading production teams on a shop floor. The candidate should have a strong working knowledge and application of metric board tracking, KPI and target development, problem solving, and a demonstrated proficiency in daily management in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing setting. You will be responsible for building capabilities in frontline production leaders (Supervisor and Team Leader) and creating sustainable systems in Manufacturing Excellence that drive long-term performance improvements. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manufacturing professional ready to make an impact by coaching, teaching, and developing others through a hands-on approach.
A successful candidate will be expected to work out of Columbus, OH. Based on eligibility, relocation assistance may be available. Travel up to 50% may be required for training, cross-site collaboration, or supporting continuous improvement initiatives at other Anduril facilities.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Establish a scalable operating/manufacturing/production system (tiered accountability, daily management, KPI trees, visual management, problem solving, governance) aligned to Safety, People, Quality, Delivery, and Cost
- Strengthen cross-functional execution by integrating Operations, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Test into shared problem-solving and prioritized action plans
- Standardize processes, tools, and templates that will be used by all Operations teams across the company
- Coach and develop Managers, Supervisors and Team Leaders through daily Gemba, leader standard work, and structured feedback
- Capture and deploy best practices across lines/cells/sites via playbooks, standard work libraries, and replication mechanisms with clear ownership and audit cadence
- Develop practical tools and structures (dashboards, hour-by-hour boards, problem queues, skills boards) that improve visibility, prioritization, and decision speed
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of experience as a Production Supervisor or Manager running a shop floor in a high-volume environment
- Possesses strong working knowledge and application of LEAN tools and principles, 5S, and Six Sigma to eliminate waste
- Clear demonstration of scaling products from NPI to high volume
- Strong working knowledge of standard work development, writing, and creation for frontline hourly teams on the shop floor
- Organized and detail-oriented with excellent verbal & written communication skills
- Passion for employee development and enjoy the process of training and developing both new hires and veteran production staff
- Experience supporting process development and optimization
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Proficient with MS Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project)
- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (engineering, business, or applied science), organizational development, or leadership
- Lean six sigma green belt certified
- Working knowledge of AS9100 standards and OSHA laws
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret Security Clearance
- Experience in small electronic assembly and drones a plus
- Ability to develop cross functional relationships as a well-respected, trusted partner
US Salary Range
$111,000—$147,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
- Please always verify communications:
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@anduril.comaddress. - Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to [email protected].
- Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an
Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to [email protected]. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.
Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.