Operations Lead

Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00) · USD 117,000-154,000 · 3+ years experience · Full-time · Posted Oct 19, 2026

At a glance

Anduril Industries is seeking an Operations Leader to serve as a tactical business execution manager within the Hardware Test & Operations (HTO) organization, reporting directly to the Deputy.
This role acts as the operational backbone of a rapidly scaling robotic systems test enterprise, owning business and resource support, financial performance, performance metrics, and day-to-day organizational execution.

Own HTO Support Operations & Organizational Rhythm by building and running the operating cadence for HTO, including staff meetings, pillar-level reviews, scorecard cycles, and cross-functional coordination.
Drive Business Metrics & Performance Reporting by defining, instrumenting, and reporting metrics that matter such as headcount vs. capacity, throughput vs. demand, IRAD burn rates, and program fund utilization.
Lead Financial Performance Execution & Resource Planning by owning the 6/12/24-month execution outlook across the organization and tracking resource allocation and utilization.
Advance Service Organization Maturity by treating HTO as a service organization, defining what service means at each interface, and building processes to transform test teams into an integrated enterprise.
Support Aviation & Flight Operations Coordination by partnering with the Director of Flight Operations and functional leads to integrate aviation test operations into the broader business cadence.
Manage Cross-functional Handoffs & Execution by tracking progress of functional support and reporting on performance of critical Deputy and VP Initiatives.
Enable the PDP Milestone Process by supporting pillar leads in delivering against Product Development Process gates from SRR through ORR.
Build Structure & Eliminate Drag by identifying what is broken, duplicated, or missing in how HTO operates and proposing and executing fixes.

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Aviation Management, or a related discipline, with equivalent relevant experience as a possible substitute.
7+ years of experience in business operations, program management, or operational leadership within a technical or defense environment, with at least 3+ years managing cross-functional processes across multiple teams or sites.
Demonstrated strength in financial forecasting, resource planning, and budget tracking.
Proven ability to build and sustain operational rhythms including review cadences, scorecards, dashboards, and reporting frameworks from scratch.
Experience in aviation, aerospace, or unmanned systems operations.
Strong analytical skills with hands-on proficiency in data tools such as Excel modeling or BI dashboards.
Track record of building or significantly improving a service organization by establishing SLAs, measuring throughput, and holding teams accountable.
Exceptional organizational and communication skills capable of distilling complexity into clear, concise briefings for senior leadership.
Bias for action and a practical, results-oriented mindset.
Active U.S. Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

MBA or Master's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
Prior experience in a Deputy, Chief of Staff, or Operations Manager role supporting a VP or senior director in a high-growth defense or aerospace organization.
Familiarity with DoD Product Development Process (PDP) milestones, T&E gate reviews, and defense acquisition lifecycle.
Experience with robotic systems, autonomous platforms, or unmanned aerial systems in test, operations, or program management.
Knowledge of IRAD/program-funded cost structures and defense contract financial management.
Experience standing up operational infrastructure in a fast-moving, ambiguity-rich environment where process didn't exist before.
Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full-time offers
Top-tier benefits for full-time employees supporting health, recovery, and wellness

Ability to travel up to 25% for domestic test site coordination and cross-pillar engagement.