Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Barracuda
Ashville · Ashville, OH (Arsenal 1) · USD 143,000-191,000 · 12+ years experience · Full-time · Posted Oct 8, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 12+ years experience
- Employment
- Full-time
- Location
- Ashville · Ashville, OH (Arsenal 1)
- Salary
- USD 143,000-191,000 · Base salary
About the role
- As a Staff Manufacturing Engineer, you will drive the enterprise-wide manufacturing strategy for Barracuda at Arsenal-1 and architect how Anduril builds autonomous air vehicles at hyper-scale.
- You'll lead the end-to-end technology transfer from HQ, design the production systems and line architecture for high-rate output, and establish the manufacturing process frameworks that become organizational standards.
Responsibilities
- Drive the enterprise-wide manufacturing strategy for Barracuda, aligning production systems, processes, and capacity plans with Anduril's long-term business objectives and Arsenal-1's ramp targets.
- Architect and lead the technology transfer of Barracuda production from Anduril HQ to Arsenal-1 — designing the production line layout, process flow, MES architecture, and quality systems for high-rate output.
- Establish the manufacturing process frameworks that become organizational standards: RCCA systems, yield management programs, takt time structures, line balancing methodologies, and scaling playbooks.
- Lead transformational line optimization initiatives that fundamentally redefine production capability — targeting step-change improvements in throughput, cost, and quality across the Barracuda program.
- Define and own the MES strategy for Barracuda production at Arsenal-1: system selection, workflow architecture, data models, and integration with quality and supply chain systems.
- Pioneer novel manufacturing approaches for complex electromechanical integration at scale; develop proprietary methods with potential for patent protection.
- Direct large-scale capital improvement programs with enterprise-wide impact; manage multi-million dollar portfolios of interdependent projects from justification through validation.
- Develop comprehensive manufacturing technology roadmaps, evaluate emerging technologies and create adoption strategies with quantified business impact.
- Establish manufacturing excellence models that balance efficiency, quality, and flexibility; lead breakthrough cost reduction programs delivering 7-figure annual savings.
- Serve as the company's foremost authority in electromechanical manufacturing processes for Barracuda; resolve the most complex technical challenges that impact critical business outcomes.
Requirements
- 12+ years in manufacturing of electromechanical hardware, with progressive leadership of complex production programs and scaling operations.
- Deep, demonstrated expertise in complex electromechanical integration at production scale — you've built it, optimized it, and scaled it.
- Track record of standing up or transforming production lines: technology transfer, line design, process architecture, and ramp to rate.
- Mastery of the manufacturing process ecosystem: work instructions, MBOMs, RCCA, line optimization, takt time management, yield programs, MES strategy, and scaling operations.
- Experience leading transformational manufacturing initiatives with enterprise-wide impact and multi-million dollar scope.
- Proven ability to resolve the most complex technical challenges where no established solution paths exist.
- A world-class quality and mission-assurance mindset with the judgment to balance competing priorities across quality, cost, schedule, and manufacturability.
- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.
Preferred qualifications
- High-rate manufacturing background in aerospace, defense, automotive/EV, or similar high-volume precision environment.
- Experience architecting production systems for a new facility or major production line standup from the ground up.
- Exposure to aircraft, aerospace, and defense programs at a strategic or program leadership level.
- Harness and PCBA fabrication experience, including SMT process expertise at scale.
- Hands-on experience with autonomous systems, flight vehicles, or related control systems.
- Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt or higher); deep familiarity with J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620.
- Experience selecting, deploying, or architecting MES platforms for high-rate production environments.
- Published work, patents, or recognized contributions to manufacturing technology advancement.
Benefits
- Top-tier benefits for full-time employees supporting health, recovery, and whatever comes next
- Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full-time offers
Skills
- MES
- RCCA
- SMT
- Lean Six Sigma
- J-STD-001
- IPC-A-610
- IPC/WHMA-A-620
