Production Manager, Composite Manufacturing

ABOUT THE JOB

As a Production Manager at Anduril North Carolina, you will be a pivotal strategic leader, orchestrating the daily execution and long-term vision of our operational landscape. This role demands a high-impact professional with a proven ability to lead and drive a diverse portfolio of critical projects, leveraging advanced data analytics and strategic insights to optimize performance, enhance efficiency, and achieve ambitious operational objectives across multiple projects. You will be at the forefront of shaping our operational future, ensuring scalable and resilient processes.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead Composite Production Operations: Lead and manage a dedicated team of highly skilled technicians in the production of advanced composite structures, ensuring efficient, high-quality manufacturing and timely delivery.
• Drive Production Excellence: Strategically plan and tactically direct monthly production operations to consistently achieve and exceed on-time delivery (OTD) goals and overall production performance targets, with a focus on composite layup, curing, and assembly processes.
• Champion Quality & Safety: Instill a culture of uncompromising quality and safety, rigorously upholding standards unique to composite manufacturing (e.g., material handling, cure cycles, NDT, ply-level inspection), minimizing defects, and fostering a secure, compliant, and pristine work environment.
• Develop & Mentor Talent: Develop and mentor production Leads/Supervisors, providing active coaching and support to cultivate professional growth, enhance leadership skills, and facilitate robust cross-training initiatives.
• Lead Continuous Improvement: Drive and implement Lean manufacturing principles (e.g., 6S, Kaizen) and other continuous improvement methodologies to optimize composite manufacturing processes, enhance efficiency, reduce waste (e.g. scrap, rework), and solve complex operational challenges.
• Strategic Communication: Ensure clear and strategic communication of production priorities, progress, potential risks, and resource requirements to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, including close collaboration with the PBP team, fostering a collaborative and informed environment.
• Utilized data-driven analysis and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to strategically direct and optimize advanced composite manufacturing operations for mission-critical structures.
• Manufacturing Maturation: Transition products from development to production grade manufacturing operations. Identify the key areas that need to develop and improve for each product’s manufacturing processes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in advanced composite manufacturing and production environments (e.g., aerospace, defense, automotive, marine), including at least 3 years in a direct leadership or management capacity.
• Demonstrated mastery of ERP and MES systems, coupled with a deep, practical understanding and application of NPI (New Product Introduction) processes, Lean manufacturing principles, and change management (ECOs)
• Ability to transition products from development to production. Experience capturing key shop floor metrics (like OEE) and driving actions to improve them.
• Proven track record of success in employee development, coaching, and mentorship, cultivating high-performing teams.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, combined with superior organizational abilities and meticulous attention to detail.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Composite materials and fabrication processes (e.g., pre-preg layup, resin infusion, filament winding, autoclave curing, bonding, machining, pressed composites).
• Exceptional ability to interpret and apply complex technical documentation specific to composites (e.g., engineering drawings with ply schedules, fiber orientation, material specifications, cure cycles, vacuum bagging procedures, work instructions) to effectively troubleshoot composite manufacturing processes, tooling, and equipment.