Staff Program Manager, Launched Effects

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Tactical Recon & Strike team at Anduril develops aerial small drones (Group 1-3) and all equipment to test, deploy and operate. The team is responsible for taking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt and Altius from concepts to operational systems. We work in close coordination with specialist teams to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are excited about creating a powerful robotics platform that can be tasked and viewed in real-time through a variety of interfaces.

ABOUT THE JOB

As the Program Manager, you will own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for Anduril's fixed-wing drone portfolio. Working closely with the General Manager and Chief Engineer, you'll define what capabilities we build and when we deliver them to meet customer mission needs.

This is a highly cross-functional role where you'll coordinate between Growth, Engineering, and Manufacturing to drive execution. You'll lead Integrated Product Teams, manage IRAD budgets, prioritize the roadmap, and ensure on-time delivery of capabilities. Your focus is strategic—determining which capabilities to build and when—while Systems Engineers and TPMs handle detailed execution.

Success requires balancing competing priorities, identifying product-level risks, removing blockers, and driving accountability across the organization. You'll influence without authority and communicate effectively from the factory floor to executive leadership. This isn't traditional project management—you'll think at the product level about lifecycle, market fit, and scaling from prototype to production

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Product Strategy & Vision

• Define product vision and strategy in collaboration with the General Manager and Chief Engineer
• Develop and prioritize the product roadmap in partnership with engineering leadership
• Collaborate with Growth to define market positioning and opportunities for TRS product line
• Maintain and evolve the product catalog to reflect current and future capabilities

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the central focal point between Growth, Manufacturing, and Engineering organizations
• Coordinate and prioritize Integrated Product Team (IPT) activities across functional areas
• Drive execution of the Product Maturity Process through coordination with cross-functional teams
• Foster collaboration and accountability for priorities across Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Legal, Business Operations, and Quality

Product Lifecycle Management

• Deliver designs from development to production readiness
• Ensure capabilities are delivered on time and meet customer requirements
• Manage product evolution from initial development through sustained production
• Oversee product financial planning, balancing market targets against cost structures

Risk & Prioritization

• Identify and mitigate product-level risks
• Lead risk assessment collaboration with technical teams
• Consolidate schedules and drive prioritization decisions across the organization
• Review and evaluate proposals, ideation concepts, and contract opportunities

Program Execution & Budget Management

• Manage IRAD budget allocation and tracking for TRS products
• Align schedules across multiple concurrent efforts
• Facilitate requirements collaboration between stakeholders
• Conduct priority assessments to optimize resource allocation

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Provide consolidated product updates to leadership and stakeholders
• Serve as cross-functional representative for TRS product line
• Document and maintain stakeholder relationships and communication channels
• Act as central point of contact for product-related inquiries and coordination
• Develop and communicate risk mitigation plans

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Prioritize product features and capabilities based on customer needs and strategic objectives
• Task functional IPTs and remove blockers to maintain momentum
• Conduct weekly IPT Leads meetings and bi-weekly Product Stakeholder meetings
• Balance competing priorities and make trade-off decisions at the product level
• Maintain strategic focus on when capabilities are needed rather than detailed execution

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of experience in product management, program management, or related roles in aerospace/defense
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary hardware products through full lifecycle
• Strong understanding of engineering development processes and manufacturing operations
• Experience with DoD contracts and government customer interfaces
• Proven ability to influence and drive decisions across cross-functional organizations without direct authority
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate between technical and business stakeholders
• Experience managing budgets and financial planning for product lines
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related technical field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with unmanned aerial systems or autonomous platforms
• Background in manufacturing process development or production scale-up
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and tools (JIRA, Confluence, Smartsheet)
• MBA or advanced technical degree
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth technology companies
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing, composites, or advanced materials