Senior Program Manager, Mission Autonomy

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE TEAM Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) is one of Anduril’s Business Lines and is focused on positioning Anduril as a lead provider of autonomy capability for multi-domain platforms. We work with customers to understand their requirements, shape their concepts of operation, and scale capability across their problem set. We aim to develop and deploy critically needed capabilities to our government partners and customers. ABOUT THE JOB As an AD&S Program Manager, you will lead the development and/or integration of Anduril products and technologies with various government and industry partners. These projects will be diverse in nature and require you to be organized and flexible to adapt to changing situations. On one project, you may be working with the customer to clarify how each of its mission requirements can be met through Anduril's core products, including the plan, scope, and work required. In another situation, you may be helping to craft a vision with the customer or participating in technical working groups with a collaborative set of engineers to transform that vision into an operational reality. During all this, you must be able to successfully work with both external and internal stakeholders, communicate plans clearly to all parties, and support and coordinate across teams to achieve the desired end state. Success in this position also hinges on two key facets: 1) systems and engineering mindset- the ability to understand and assess technical concepts- identifying system dependencies, interfaces, technical risks and the impact of key architectural decisions with the engineering team is a must; and 2) an execution mindset- digging into the details, charting the path and owning the outcome. You will be expected to utilize your technical aptitude in conjunction with your program and project management skills to deliver the best outcome for Anduril and the customer. We are seeking an experienced Program Manager (PM) with prior training and experience in a relevant engineering field to plan, direct, and lead internal and external program activities. The PM will lead day-to-day coordination and execution of program initiatives and tasks - working alongside the Chief Engineer to meet the program’s administrative, technical, and operational requirements. WHAT YOU’LL DO Own the development, integration, and demonstration of prototype autonomous ground system capabilities from initial contract award through successful delivery. Manage relationships and technical integration with external platform providers, ensuring alignment on requirements, schedules, and demonstration objectives. Coordinate and execute frequent test events involving various levels of software and hardware, from software simulations at Anduril HQ to end-to-end capability demonstrations at overseas sites. Build trust with Anduril teammates, partners, and customers through effective communication, positive attitude, and meticulous follow-through. Support Anduril’s growth in the uncrewed ground vehicle market by contributing to customer engagements, proposal development, and growth campaign planning. Demonstrate high ownership of all aspects of the program; become a trusted partner to Anduril’s engineers to drive successful execution at velocity. Proactively identify technical and programmatic risks, make informed trade-offs between competing priorities, and implement mitigation strategies. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in program management, project management, or leadership roles involving complex technical systems or operations Broad DoD experience or defense/military service/background Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships in dynamic, high-pressure environments Proven ability to translate operational requirements into technical solutions and execution plans Experience managing budgets, schedules, and resources to achieve business objectives Exceptional communication skills with the ability to brief senior military and civilian leadership on complex technical and programmatic topics Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS MBA, Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or other relevant advanced degree Military service in the U.S. Army or Marine Corps with experience in combat arms Familiarity with Department of Defense acquisition processes, including prototyping authorities (e.g., Other Transaction Agreements) and rapid acquisition pathways Experience managing defense contracts and government reporting requirements Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, or unmanned platforms in development or operational environments Background working with non-traditional defense contractors, commercial technology companies, or in fast-paced startup environments Direct experience planning and executing live-fire exercises and field training US Salary Range $166,000 - $220,000 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: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS Roles: Superannuation plan. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 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/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, Laguna Niguel , Senior Program Manager, Mission Autonomy, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California