Chemical Manufacturing Lead

Anduril 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 TEAM

The Chemical Manufacturing Lead is a pivotal role responsible for directing and optimizing the operations of our propellant manufacturing and analytical teams. This position ensures that production activities not only meet rigorous safety and quality standards but also drive innovation and efficiency across both manufacturing and R&D initiatives. The successful candidate will foster a collaborative environment with cross-departmental teams to support R&D, accommodate low-rate production demands, and implement continuous improvement strategies.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the propellant manufacturing and analytical teams.
• Mentor and train team members to develop technical expertise and enhance safety awareness.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and support professional development efforts.
• Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
• Identify production bottlenecks and inefficiencies; lead initiatives to streamline manufacturing processes.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to continuously improve quality, productivity, and overall operational performance.
• Manage and review Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor process effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Safety, Compliance, & Regulatory Adherence
• Ensure all operations comply with DoD, OSHA, ATF, EPA, and any other relevant regulatory standards.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols.
• Lead regular safety audits and proactively address any compliance issues.
• Capacity Planning & Strategic Input
• Engage in detailed capacity planning discussions to support both production targets and R&D activities.
• Analyze production forecasts, allocate resources effectively, and adjust schedules to meet evolving demand.
• Participate in strategic planning meetings to align operational goals with the organization’s long-term objectives.
• Collaborative Cross-Functional Engagement
• Liaise with R&D, quality assurance, supply chain, and engineering departments to ensure seamless handoffs and well-defined processes.
• Serve as a key contact for cross-departmental projects and initiatives, ensuring that manufacturing capabilities align with new product development and testing.
• Facilitate effective communication between diverse teams to optimize workflow and resolve inter-departmental issues.
• Documentation & Workload Optimization
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of detailed process documentation that supports operational transparency and reproducibility.
• Review and approve work assignments, ensuring optimal balance of workload among team members.
• Utilize data-driven approaches to adjust tasks and schedules, maximizing both productivity and efficiency.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven management experience within chemical manufacturing or a related industrial environment.
• Hands-on background in propellant chemistry, chemical processing, or similar fields
• Demonstrated success in driving process improvements and managing a technically diverse team
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

  Technical Proficiency:

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for documentation and reporting.
  • Familiarity with process simulation tools, data analytics software, and quality management systems is a plus.

  Skills:

  • Leadership: Strong ability to guide teams with clarity and motivate them toward achieving safety and production goals.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving: Excellent analytical skills to identify is