Director of Technical Operations & Sustainment

Anduril is a defense technology company, bringing Silicon Valley talent and funding to the defense sector. Our technology helps our customers solve their toughest challenges by enabling them to make better, more informed decisions in life-and-death situations. We’ve assembled a diverse team of experts in artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor fusion, optics, and data analysis to create software and hardware solutions that radically evolve the capabilities of the United States and our allies. If you are passionate about solving problems that have real impact, come join Anduril and build the future of defense.
We are looking for a Director of Technical Operations to join our rapidly growing team in Costa Mesa, CA. As Director of Technical Operations, you will lead Anduril’s field engineering and operations organization that is responsible for deploying, maintaining, and sustaining all of Anduril’s fielded hardware and systems. The Technical Operations team is a large, diverse organization that is growing rapidly and supports a variety of products, business lines, and internal teams. Strategic leadership of the function while supporting the business teams will be imperative as you will lead the development, implementation, and management of comprehensive field operations and sustainment strategies that improve Anduril’s ability to deploy and sustain hardware. This role involves leading and coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of all elements of field maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations. It will require a breadth of understanding of both commercial and military sustainment, experience working on government programs, and a deep appreciation for details. This position is pivotal in ensuring Anduril continues to scale our capabilities in field operations and sustainment.
We are a fast-growing company at the early stages of our growth, and you will be expected to own material and important projects during your time on the team, which will have a significant impact on the company’s trajectory. Anduril fosters a diverse, collaborative, culture with plenty of opportunities for ownership and professional growth.
WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Direct all Technical Operations activities across programs to include execution, process, best practices, technical oversight, and budget monitoring.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of leaders and individual contributors, including recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Implement and maintain field operations systems, standards, and data to ensure accurate and efficient field operations and sustainment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including growth, engineering, quality, and program management, to ensure alignment and execution of deployment and sustainment goals.
• Develop and implement field operations plans and best practices to ensure the timely execution of all deployment and sustainment program deliverables in a highly collaborative environment.
• Participate with engineering to establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, testing, and integration.
• Influence, and coordinate the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets, and financial terms/conditions of contract(s). Influence contract acquisitions, negotiations, and modifications.
• Problem solve and remove obstacles for your team and internal and external partners. Know how to think critically and engage the right teams to help.
• Communicate effectively to keep internal and external teams informed at all times. Use the necessary channels (Slack, email, meetings) to ensure stakeholders understand what needs to be accomplished and when.
• Be a team player where no task is too small. Be willing to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Embrace the startup life.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in field operations and sustainment, including leadership roles and experience leading large, distributed organizations
• Prior military, overseas contracting, or extensive field operations experience
• Demonstrates technical expertise and application of field operations management principles, concepts, and practice as well as leadership skills including organizing, planning, scheduling, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones.
• Experience working in unstructured situations at the interface of hardware, software, and networking; ability to drive challenging and vague technical problems to clarity and resolution.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong ability to work cross-functionally, including at a deeply technical level, in an unstructured environment; startup experience preferred.
• Strong outcome orientation with the ability to drive initiatives from inception to implementation and adoption. Willing and able to dive into tactical execution mode when needed to move the effort forward.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects from idea conception to idea execution without assistance.
• Moves fast, has a positive attitude and can lead people directly and via influence.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. TS/SCI security clearance