Staff Project Engineer, AD&S

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.

Job Description: Staff Project Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering

Costa Mesa, CA

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 real-time, 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 JOB

Anduril’s Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) Manufacturing Engineering team is seeking a Staff Project Engineer to drive the execution of Manufacturing Development Plan (MDP) and Product Development Process (PDP) stage gate deliverables across all AD&S programs. This role spans both Air Strike and Air Dominance product lines — from cruise missiles and loitering munitions to autonomous aircraft — and is responsible for ensuring that manufacturing engineering milestones are met on time, with the right content, at every gate.

This is not a program management role. You are a seasoned manufacturing engineer who understands what good looks like at every stage of product development, and you will use that expertise to drive the quality and completeness of stage gate deliverables across the organization. You will work directly with Product Program Managers, Program Managers, Chief Engineers, and Manufacturing Engineering managers and their teams to prepare, review, and deliver stage gate review decks and presentations. You are the person who ensures nothing falls through the cracks between what the process requires and what the teams actually deliver.

Beyond stage gate execution, you will serve as the Manufacturing Engineering representative on ad-hoc, cross-functional projects — stepping in wherever design, quality, supply chain, or operations needs an experienced ME perspective to drive a problem to resolution. This role demands someone who builds relationships fast, earns trust across functions, and gets things done without needing to be told twice.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Own the execution of MDP and PDP stage gate deliverables for manufacturing engineering across all AD&S programs, ensuring completeness, technical accuracy, and on-time delivery at every gate.
• Work directly with PPMs, PMs, Chief Engineers, and ME managers to prepare and deliver stage gate review decks and presentations that accurately represent manufacturing readiness.
• Track and drive the closure of stage gate action items, open risks, and manufacturing readiness gaps across programs.
• Serve as the quality bar for ME stage gate content — you know what a strong gate review looks like and you hold teams to that standard.
• Coordinate across multiple programs running on different timelines, ensuring each team has the support and structure needed to hit their gates.
• Represent Manufacturing Engineering on ad-hoc, cross-functional projects as needed — providing the experienced ME voice in design trades, quality investigations, supply chain decisions, and operational problem-solving.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with design engineering, quality, supply chain, operations, and program management — this role only works if people trust you and want to work with you.
• Drive one-off projects to completion, taking ownership from problem definition through resolution without requiring constant direction.
• Identify gaps and inconsistencies in stage gate processes and recommend improvements to make the system more effective as programs scale.
• Support the development and maintenance of stage gate templates, checklists, and standards that codify what good ME deliverables look like.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to less experienced manufacturing engineers on stage gate expectations and cross-functional execution.
• Travel to production sites and partner facilities as needed (<10%).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with significant exposure to product development processes, stage gate reviews, and manufacturing readiness assessments.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing development planning — you have lived through the full lifecycle from prototype through rate production multiple times and know what manufacturing maturity actually looks like at each phase.
• Proven track record of working across functions with program management, design engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations to deliver results.
• Exceptional ability to build cross-functional relationships and drive projects to completion through influence, not authority.
• Experience preparing and delivering technical review presentations to senior engineering and program leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills — ability to track and drive deliverables across multiple concurrent programs without letting anything slip.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex manufacturing topics into clear, actionable content for stage gate reviews.
• Self-directed and proactive — you see what needs to happen, you go do it, and you close the loop.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where processes are still being built and refined.
• Personal experience on the production floor — you have built, tested, or directly supported the manufacturing of hardware. Your credibility comes from having done the work.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
• Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing, particularly with qualified or flight-critical hardware programs.
• Familiarity with AS9100/AS9102 quality management systems and their intersection with stage gate processes.
• Experience with manufacturing readiness level (MRL) assessments or similar maturity frameworks.
• Background in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies applied in a production environment.
• Experience supporting production transfers or new site stand-ups as part of a stage-gated development process.
• Proficiency in CAD software and familiarity with modern manufacturing technologies across multiple disciplines (machining, composites, electronics, assembly).
• Appropriate clearance classification.