--- title: 'Special Projects Manager at Anduril Industries' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/special-projects-manager-anduril-industries-irvine-3nar1xhfgb5n' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-17' --- # Special Projects Manager at Anduril Industries - **Company:** Anduril Industries - **Location:** Irvine, CA - **Compensation:** $146k–$201k - **Posted:** 2026-10-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/andurilindustries/jobs/5255091007?gh_jid=5255091007 ## 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 The Air Defense team builds robots that find other robots and knock them out of the sky. At a time when air superiority can no longer be taken for granted, the Air Defense team provides mission critical capabilities to warfighters. From detection to tracking, identification, deterrence, and defeat, our family of networked sensors and effectors enables our customers to rapidly close the kill chain against a broad range of UAS threats. Working across product, engineering, business development, logistics, operations, and mission success, the Air Defense team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril Air Defense Family of Systems in challenging operational environments worldwide. ## ABOUT THE JOB Air Defense is a high-octane, rapidly scaling business line that develops, integrates, and fields an expanding mix of mature and novel capabilities to detect and defeat UAS threats. As our business line continues to scale, our newest emerging initiatives require focused direction and ownership to rapidly mature in support of Air Defense’s operational, technical, and financial objectives. These special projects are critical to our organization’s continued growth: they can convert into a new product, a new team, or a new program. As a member of the Special Projects team within Air Defense’s Mission Operations organization, you will be an innovative and independent problem-solver at the forefront of some of our most critical initiatives. You will be rapidly inserted into fresh, dynamic, and at times chaotic situations on a weekly basis. You will wear many hats. You will also be the face of Anduril to many of our end-users and our customers, capable of articulating the capabilities and limitations of Anduril’s products at both an executive and a layman’s level. You will communicate the “why” for emerging Air Defense technology at the intersection of programmatic, financial, technical, and operational considerations. We move fast at Anduril and give tremendous freedom and autonomy to our new hires to assume responsibility and exercise prudent interdisciplinary judgement. You should expect to be running at least two cross-functional projects independently within 60 days of hiring. When you join our team, you’re signing up to immediately make an impact in our organization and with our customers globally. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO - Product Development - you will lead teams building early-stage products, and will mature those teams to scale products. As a cross-functional leader within the business line, on any given day you may be working across the product, engineering, operations, logistics, and test teams to spearhead early-stage product development and maturation initiatives. - Program Management - you partner with capture, growth, and engineering leads to shepherd emerging proposals into successful programs for the business line’s most strategic priorities. You will forecast resources, liaise with subject matter experts on engineering capacity, and exercise both strategic and tactical decision-making to ensure that our newest programs are set up for success across the dimensions of cost, schedule, and performance. - Support Global Growth Initiatives - you will be a trusted consultant and supporting function on the Air Defense Business Line’s products for international development opportunities and for strategic international engagements. You communicate the nuances of engineering and production roadmaps for Air Defense products, consult on product-market fit for international growth-leads, and participate as the business-line representative in high-visibility engagements with senior domestic & foreign government officials. - Flex Capacity - as Anduril grows, there’s stuff that we haven’t foreseen yet that will need a cross-functional leader to own end-to-end. You’ll be a full-field player for the business line and will demonstrate extreme professional versatility as an elite generalist. ## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS This role is not for everyone. You will live on a constant rollercoaster of “it’s so over / we’re so back,” and you need to be the force that steadies the ship in large swells. We are far more interested in what you have done than where you are coming from. - Core Attributes: - First Principles Thinker: You break down complex problems into their most fundamental components and build solutions from what is known to be true and makes sense in context, rather than how it has been done in the past. You always question the status quo. - Build with longevity in mind - you build teams and systems that are resilient and scalable beyond your personal involvement. You’re unafraid to leave something you’ve built, even when it’s quickly succeeding. - Allergic to ambiguity - you use questions as tools and have a proven track-record of making sound decisions under uncertainty and with limited information. - Master Communicator - you are fluent in the fundamental principles of persuasion and have elite writing, speaking, and narrative-crafting skills. - Analytical Rigor and Versatility - you’re a dialectical thinker able to properly interpret contradictory information. You have an extensive analytical toolkit and have the intellectual awareness to update your views as you receive new information. - Demonstrated Humility - you’re not above shouldering more than your share of the task, getting your hands dirty, and you champion the successes of the engineers you lead. No job is too small for you. - Bachelor’s Degree - 4+ years as a cross-functional leader in hardware and/or software organizations - Demonstrated success delivering technology to large commercial institutions or government organizations - Proven experience leading tech-enabled teams of peers across specializations - Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance. - Willing to travel up to 50% of the time* ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Demonstrated success working in at least two discrete industries - Exposure to robot autonomy, machine learning, sensor fusion, data analytics - Experience in rapid prototype development and fielding - Advanced Degree - Demonstrated interest in national security issues and defense technologies US Salary Range $146,000—$201,000 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 - [Senior Test Site Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-test-site-manager-anduril-industries-ashville-j96w4xm6x0yn) — Ashville, OH - [Finance, Master Data Management](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-master-data-management-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-t27eash199n7) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Engineer, Systems & Tools](https://feeny.ai/job/engineer-systems-tools-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-5yydp1yy7tnm) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Product Manager, ERP](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-erp-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-xgg5abs9n8cv) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Classified Platform Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/classified-platform-engineer-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-kmqy63ef38wt) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Sustainment Engineer, Fury](https://feeny.ai/job/sustainment-engineer-fury-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-3ptrmhtcp9wj) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Mission Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mission-software-engineer-anduril-industries-waltham-thg3m6cecgxp) — Waltham, MA - [Mission Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-software-engineer-anduril-industries-waltham-gpp762vcn18f) — Waltham, MA - [Vehicle Battery Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/vehicle-battery-systems-engineer-anduril-industries-santa-ana-vw9mmbxam1az) — Santa Ana, CA - [Vehicle Energy Systems Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/vehicle-energy-systems-lead-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-xqpjjd7hyjbz) — Costa Mesa, CA