Test & Evaluation Operations Lead

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE TEAM The Test and Evaluation team at Anduril operates across an extensive range of products and business lines, encompassing all flight operations and test range management. Our team conducts comprehensive system-level development testing, new production acceptance testing, sub-component qualification testing, and more. If it involves testing, we support it. Join us in an innovative and fast-paced environment where your work directly influences the effectiveness of the products we field. ABOUT THE JOB We are seeking a T&E Operations Lead to provide critical, high-level support to the VP of Test & Evaluation . In this pivotal role, you will act as a strategic thought partner, trusted advisor, and operational force multiplier for the VP. You will oversee the execution of strategic priorities, streamline business operations within the T&E organization, and drive high-impact initiatives across a broad spectrum of responsibilities. Your mandate will range from solving immediate operational challenges and optimizing processes to leading complex, cross-functional projects that directly support the VP's vision and the overall success of the Test & Evaluation function. You will be instrumental in ensuring organizational alignment, efficiency, and growth, collaborating closely with the VP and senior leadership teams to achieve strategic objectives. WHAT YOU’LL DO Strategic Planning & Execution Partner: Act as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the VP of T&E, helping to define, prioritize, and drive the execution of the organization's strategic roadmap and annual objectives. Operational Excellence & Organizational Management: Oversee and optimize the day-to-day business operations of the T&E organization, including organizational design, talent planning, resource allocation, facility planning, security compliance, and legal support. Ensure the T&E organization operates efficiently and effectively to deliver on its mission. Strategic Initiatives Leadership: Identify, scope, and lead high-priority strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the VP, ensuring timely execution, impact, and alignment with T&E and company goals. Communications & Stakeholder Management: Manage internal and external communications for the VP, preparing presentations, reports, and briefings for executive leadership, board members, and external partners. Act as a primary liaison, building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders across Anduril and the defense community. Financial Stewardship: Partner with the VP and Anduril finance teams to manage the T&E organization's budget, financial planning, resource allocation, and burn rate, ensuring fiscal responsibility and strategic investment. Problem Solving & Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify operational bottlenecks, critical issues, and potential risks within the T&E function. Develop and implement data-driven solutions to enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and enable rapid scaling. Talent & Culture Development: Collaborate with HR and T&E leadership to foster a high-performance culture, support talent acquisition strategies, and drive professional development initiatives across the team. External Representation: Manage external interfaces, including conferences, industry events, and strategic partnerships, representing the VP and the T&E organization as needed. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 8 years of progressive professional experience in operations, program management, or a Chief of Staff role, with at least 3 years supporting senior leadership (VP-level or higher). Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence, discretion, and a people-centric, data-driven approach to complex problem-solving. Exceptional organizational and project management skills, capable of independently managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Strong technical acumen with the ability to understand complex engineering challenges and collaborate effectively with highly technical teams. Proven ability to navigate complex organizational structures and influence without direct authority. Ability to travel frequently as needed to various test sites and company locations. Must maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS MBA or a relevant advanced degree (e.g., Engineering Management, Project Management). Direct experience in a Chief of Staff role within a fast-paced technology company, defense contractor, or a similar high-growth environment. Experience in Test & Evaluation, R&D, or bringing complex hardware/software products to market in a defense or aerospace context. US Salary Range $146,000 - $194,000 USD The 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: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS Roles: Superannuation plan. 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. Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com . Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, National City , Test & Evaluation Operations Lead, IT / Software / Systems , Costa Mesa, California