Associate Director, Technical Operations Engineer, Tactical Recon and Strike

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: June 2, 2025

Job Description:

Associate Director, Technical Operations Engineer, Tactical Recon and StrikeAnduril 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.About The TeamThe Tactical Recon and Strike (TRS) team at Anduril develops small aerial drones (Group 1-3) along with all the necessary equipment for testing, deployment, and operation. The team transforms products like Ghost , Anvil , Altius , and Bolt from initial concepts into operational systems. We work closely with specialized teams to tackle some of our customers' most complex challenges. Currently, we are seeking a technical field operations team lead to support hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are passionate about creating a robust robotics platform that can be tasked and monitored in real time through various interfaces.About The JobAs Associate Director of Technical Operations Engineering for TRS, you will play a crucial role in bridging product engineering and deployed operations. You'll be embedded in air vehicle development programs, leveraging your technical and operational expertise to shape and deploy highly effective and reliable solutions in austere, remote environments.What You'll Do

• Lead and develop a team of Technical Operations Engineers.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Identify training needs and manage staffing plans.
• Recruit and hire subject matter experts.Field Operations Management:
  • Lead Technical Operations Engineers in military aviation projects.
  • Ensure project timelines are met and coordinate cross-functional teams.
  • Report status to management and stakeholders.Air Systems Support:
    • Execute technical operations strategies for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
    • Ensure high availability and performance of air systems.
    • Maintain support plans for personnel, hardware, and software.
    • Oversee event planning and resource allocation.Product Support:
      • Lead incident response for air systems in the field.
      • Conduct post-incident reviews and implement preventive measures.Process Improvement:
        • Implement process improvements and automation in workflows.
        • Optimize systems for military environments.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
          • Extensive experience in UAS field operations management
          • Military experience as a UAV operators or maintenance
          • Strong problem-solving and team collaboration skills
          • Ability to train others and work extended hours
          • Willingness to travel up to 50%
          • Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance
          • Able to meet health and medical requirements in advance of deployments in accordance with DFARS 252.225-7040, DoDI 3020.41, and/or any additional requirements outlined by region or supporting force, as applicable.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
            • Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related field
            • Experience with weapon systems for manned or unmanned aircraft or missiles
            • Experience with ground-based air defense systems, airbreathing propulsion systems, aircraft/launch vehicle flight line operations, or munitions storage and handling
            • Demonstrated coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar languagesUS Salary Range$148,000 - $222,000 USDThe 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:
              • Platinum Healthcare Benefits:For U.S. roles, we offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
                • For UK roles, Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Anduril will cover the full cost of the insurance premium for an employee and dependents.
                • For AUS roles, Private health plan through Bupa: Coverage is fully subsidized by Anduril.
                • Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Anduril, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
                • Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
                • 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
                • Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.
                • Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well.
                • A professional development stipend is available to all Andurilians.
                • Daily Meals and Provisions: For many of our offices this means breakfast, lunch and fully stocked micro-kitchens.
                • Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
                • Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
                • 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). (US roles only)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.Anduril is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Anduril team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfEnter manuallyAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfWebsiteEXPORT CONTROLS - This position requires access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls. * Select...Are you any of the following "protected individual(s)" as defined in the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)?:U.S. WORK AUTHORIZATION * Select...Are you authorized to work in the United States?Will you require sponsorship from Anduril for employment now or in the future (e.g, H1B visa)? * Select...HISTORY WITH ANDURIL * Select...Have you previously applied to a position at Anduril?Have you ever been employed by Anduril or any company that Anduril has acquired? * Select...CONFLICT OF INTEREST * Select...Do you currently, or have you in the last 5 years, worked for the US government (e.g., Congressional staffer, member of the military, state, or federal agencies) and had oversight or similar responsibility over Anduril's business or other interests?LinkedIn ProfileVoluntary Self-IdentificationFor government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.As set forth in Anduril Industries's Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.Select...Voluntary Self-Identification of DisabilityForm CC-305Page 1 of 1OMB Control Number 1250-0005Expires 04/30/2026Voluntary Self-Identification of DisabilityForm CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
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Keywords: Anduril Industries, Hawthorne , Associate Director, Technical Operations Engineer, Tactical Recon and Strike, Executive , Costa Mesa, California