--- title: 'Forward Deployed Production Lead at Anduril Industries' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/forward-deployed-production-lead-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-5ehae9rdv0hw' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-07' --- # Forward Deployed Production Lead at Anduril Industries - **Company:** Anduril Industries - **Location:** Costa Mesa, CA - **Compensation:** $117k–$154k - **Posted:** 2026-11-06 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/andurilindustries/jobs/5286897007?gh_jid=5286897007 ## Job description 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 Forward Deployed Production is Anduril’s production strike team. We are a small, elite group embedded directly in Production — Anduril’s largest, fastest-growing organization responsible for procuring, manufacturing, and delivering hardware to warfighters. We exist because scaling a hardware company at Anduril’s pace creates problems that can’t be solved from a conference room. They have to be solved on the floor, at the supplier, in the system — wherever the constraint actually lives. Think of us as Anduril’s equivalent of a rapid-response taskforce: a handful of high-output operators deployed against the highest-priority, hardest problems in Production. We report into Production leadership and are handed the problems that are too messy, too cross-functional, or too urgent for the normal operating rhythm to absorb. Our mandate is simple: deliver hardware on-time, with quality, at cost — and remove whatever stands in the way of that. ## ABOUT THE JOB You will be deployed against the most critical bottlenecks in Production — whether that’s a supplier who can’t hit rate, a manufacturing line that’s bleeding yield, a system that’s generating bad data, or a process that’s adding weeks to delivery. You go where the problem is, you diagnose it, and you fix it. You work across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Planning, Quality, Test, and any other function that touches the critical path. You are equally comfortable in an ERP system and on a production floor. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own problems end-to-end, from root cause to implemented fix. You will be handed ambiguous, urgent, messy situations with zero prescription on how to solve them. You define the problem, build the solution, and drive it to completion. If the idea of figuring it out from scratch does not excite you, this is not the role. - Go to the floor. Go to the supplier. Go to the warehouse. This role requires physical presence where hardware is being built, tested, stored, and shipped. You will spend significant time on production floors, at supplier facilities, and in stockrooms — not in conference rooms theorizing about what might be happening. - Attack cost and schedule relentlessly. Everything we do ladders up to shipping hardware on-time and at cost. You will own projects that directly reduce unit cost, eliminate schedule delays, improve yield, or increase throughput. You measure your impact in dollars saved, days recovered, and units shipped. - Fix the systems, not just the symptoms. Anduril is a hardware business, and tracking hardware is messy. You will work at the intersection of physical operations and software systems — inventory management, asset tracking, MES, ERP, MRP — to ensure our tools and data infrastructure can keep pace with our growth. When a system is broken or a process is generating garbage data, you fix it. - Drive decisions through data, fast. You will execute rapid, scrappy analyses to get answers on short timelines — then build more scalable solutions where warranted. You are fluent in Excel, SQL, or tools like Palantir Foundry, and you can pull data from business systems to create the insights that drive action. - Wrangle stakeholders and drive accountability. You will lead cross-functional efforts spanning Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and more. You run the meetings, you own the action items, you follow up relentlessly. If you don’t like being the person who drives a room full of people toward a decision, this is not the role. - Provide structure to chaos. Hardware startups at scale are messy. You bring first-principles thinking, clear frameworks, and rigorous problem decomposition to situations where everyone else is overwhelmed. You translate ambiguity into action. ## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - 3+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, production engineering, supply chain, management consulting, or another environment where you had to physically solve hard operational problems — not just analyze them from a distance. - You have been on a factory floor. You understand how things are actually built, how supply chains actually work, and where things actually break down. Theoretical knowledge alone is not sufficient. - You are fast. You bias toward action over analysis-paralysis. We’d rather pull you back than push you forward. - You are self-directed to an extreme degree. You do not wait to be told what to do, what to prioritize, or how to solve a problem. You identify the highest-leverage thing you could be doing and you go do it. - You are comfortable with hardware, physical systems, and the unglamorous details of how things get procured, manufactured, tested, and shipped. - You have strong analytical chops. You think in numbers, data models, and root causes. You can build a model in Excel, pull data from an ERP, and turn it into a clear recommendation — quickly. - You are relentless about follow-through. You don’t just identify problems — you fix them, verify the fix, and make sure they stay fixed. - You are comfortable with high visibility. This role involves direct interaction with senior leadership and broad communication across the organization. Your work will be seen. That should motivate you, not intimidate you. - You embrace feedback and own your weaknesses. The pace of this team means you will make mistakes. What matters is how fast you learn from them. - Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities. US Salary Range $117,000—$154,000 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](https://www.anduril.com/careers). 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: - Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. - 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 contact@anduril.com. - 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 contact@anduril.com. 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. ## About Anduril Industries ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: A military technology company developing AI-powered autonomous systems and software for defense and national security. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series H) - **Headquarters**: Costa Mesa, California, USA - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm, Joe Chen, Brian Schimpf ## Core Business - Primary industry: Defense, aerospace, artificial intelligence, robotics - Target customers: Primarily B2G – U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments (e.g., UK, UAE), and border security agencies (e.g., CBP) - Mission/purpose: To accelerate the adoption of advanced technology in defense, with a focus on autonomous systems, AI-driven decision-making, and rapid production at scale. ## Products & Services - **[Lattice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Lattice)**: AI-powered software platform that fuses sensor data from multiple sources (Anduril and third-party) to detect, identify, and track objects in real time. Core to all Anduril systems. - **[Sentry Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Sentry_Tower)**: Autonomous, solar-powered surveillance tower (33ft) with cameras, radar, thermal imaging, and comms – used for border security and military base protection. - **[Ghost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Ghost)**: Small, portable unmanned aerial system (UAS) for reconnaissance and surveillance; used by U.S. Marines and other forces. - **Altius Family**: Tube-launched, fixed-wing UAVs (e.g., Altius 600, Altius 700M) that can be deployed from aircraft, ground vehicles, or larger UAVs. - **Fury (YFQ-44A)**: Semi-autonomous collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) developed for the U.S. Air Force’s CCA program; first flight in October 2025. - **IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System)**: Anduril took over development from Microsoft in 2025; a heads-up display/goggle system for ground soldiers. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: $61 billion (Series H, May 2026) – [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) - **Annual Revenue**: $2 billion (2025) – [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) - **Total Funding**: ~$12.7 billion (across all rounds, including $5B raise in May 2026) – [robotics.press](https://robotics.press/news/anduril-deep-dive/) - **Notable Investors**: Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, 8VC, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Valor Equity Partners, D1 Capital Partners, Sands Capital - **Notable Customers/Partners**: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), UK Home Office, Royal Navy, Edge Group (UAE), OpenAI - **Growth Signals**: - Raised $5B in May 2026 at a $61B valuation, up from $14B in August 2024 - Constructing Arsenal-1, a $1B hyperscale manufacturing facility in Ohio, with partnerships from Ohio State University - Acquired multiple companies between 2021-2026 (Area-I, Adranos, Blue Force Technologies, Numerica, Klas, ExoAnalytic Solutions, etc.) - Won contracts for CCA development (Air Force), robotic combat vehicle software (Army), and CBP border surveillance - Took over IVAS program from Microsoft (2025) - Employees grew from ~90 in 2017 to 7,000 in 2026 ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically integrated**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own hardware (drones, towers, missiles) and software (Lattice), enabling rapid iteration. - **AI-first approach**: Lattice provides a common operating picture across domains, reducing decision latency in combat scenarios. - **Speed of production**: Arsenal projects aim to produce advanced autonomous systems faster than traditional defense primes. - **Government trust**: Deep relationships with DoD and allied agencies, demonstrated by multi-million-dollar contracts and classified work. - **In-person, security-focused culture**: Proximity to military bases, industrial equipment, and classified contract requirements create a unique operational moat. ## Strategic Focus - **Hyperscale manufacturing**: Build Arsenal-1 (Ohio) and subsequent “Arsenal” facilities to manufacture autonomous weapons at near-peer-competitive speed. - **Space domain**: Acquired ExoAnalytic Solutions (March 2026) to expand into space-based intelligence and surveillance. - **Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)**: Fury is a key program; competing for Air Force’s CCA Increment 1. - **International expansion**: Partnership with UAE’s Edge Group; sales to UK (Royal Navy, Home Office); plans to serve other Five Eyes and allied nations. - **AI integration**: Partnership with OpenAI to enhance defense systems; Lattice already used by Space Force for surveillance networks. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven work**: Direct impact on national security and defense technology – opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI, robotics, and autonomous systems. - **Culture**: Emphasizes in-person collaboration due to security requirements, industrial equipment, and classified programs. Offices include Costa Mesa (HQ), Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Washington D.C., London, and Sydney. - **Growth trajectory**: Company has grown from 90 employees to 7,000 in ~9 years; significant investment in new facilities and acquisitions indicates continued expansion. - **Engineering focus**: Heavy investment in software, AI, hardware, and manufacturing engineering – roles span from software engineers to aerospace engineers to production specialists. - **Notable perks/benefits**: Not detailed in public sources, but the company offers competitive compensation in a high-stakes, high-impact environment. The Ohio Arsenal-1 facility will employ many from Ohio State University’s applied science programs. ## Sources 1. [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) – Wikipedia: Anduril Industries (key facts, revenue, employee count, product details, funding, acquisitions) 2. [tracxn.com](https://tracxn.com/d/companies/anduril/__qqOI0HKR47lFXorj9FAQlDfmJOqfOpDNWiW3JcO--ss) – Tracxn: Anduril company profile, funding stage, founders 3. [robotics.press](https://robotics.press/news/anduril-deep-dive/) – Robotics Press: Deep dive on valuation, revenue, total funding, employee estimate 4. [anduril.com/careers](https://www.anduril.com/careers) – Official careers page (search result summary) 5. [anduril.com/open-roles](https://www.anduril.com/open-roles) – Open roles listing ## Other roles at Anduril Industries - [Curriculum Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/curriculum-developer-anduril-industries-santa-ana-6htrphsn60v0) — Santa Ana, CA - [Program Manager, Maintenance](https://feeny.ai/job/program-manager-maintenance-anduril-industries-ashville-1yx960a04m6j) — Ashville, OH - [Growth Operations Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/growth-operations-associate-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-7gc7sar8jzw5) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Supplier Quality Engineer - Sentry](https://feeny.ai/job/supplier-quality-engineer-sentry-anduril-industries-irvine-tvr0x3ya168c) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Supplier Quality Engineer - Sentry](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-supplier-quality-engineer-sentry-anduril-industries-irvine-5befszzye81w) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Flight Test Engineer, Omen](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-flight-test-engineer-omen-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-fm2827kf0cba) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Flight Test Engineer, Omen](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-engineer-omen-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-hyw4vy9wrt79) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Flight Test Engineer - Advanced Effects (Roadrunner)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-flight-test-engineer-advanced-effects-roadrunner-anduril-industries-y08jtpec5qct) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Mailroom Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/mailroom-specialist-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-prawmqn0hskd) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Manager, Counter Intrusion](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-counter-intrusion-anduril-industries-irvine-v6nk24cjap5g) — Irvine, CA