Freelance Localization Project Manager Jobs in Irvine, CA

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 Global Defense (GD) team is responsible for establishing and expanding Anduril's international business - developing and delivering the products and technology that address the unique security challenges faced by America's Allies and partners. The team operates across every major theater, pairing deep regional expertise with a sophisticated command of foreign military sales, trade, and compliance frameworks. GD team members serve as the bridge between international customers and the broader Anduril enterprise; they translate partner-nation requirements and perspectives back to Anduril's Business Lines, while serving as Anduril's ambassadors and partners abroad. They shape and capture new opportunities by leveraging Anduril's strengths in innovation, modern warfighting, agile foreign sales strategies, and rigorous export compliance. The team's work spans the full lifecycle of international engagement: global strategy and market analysis; international business development and deal navigation; partnerships and representation; trade, export control, and Tech Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD); and the global operations, security, and in-country presence required to execute. ABOUT THE JOB We are seeking a creative and collaborative Director, Localization Programs to join our rapidly growing team in either Washington, DC or Costa Mesa, CA. In this highly cross-functional role, you will partner closely with Anduril's Business Lines, Mission Operations, Trade & Compliance, Legal, Finance, and Operations to ensure our global localization commitments are credible, fully compliant, and flawlessly delivered. You will bridge the gap between the field and the factory, translating real-world customer demand directly into our product and production strategies. By aligning Anduril's manufacturing footprint, industrial partnerships, and in-country investments with local market realities, you will empower the Global Defense team to exceed allied mission demands and drive massive revenue growth through strategic engagements, product excellence, and a long-term commitment to customer success. WHAT YOU'LL DO * Architect & run Anduril's global localization playbook: design and drive localization, offset, and industrial participation programs and strategies that unlock market access and accelerate expansion across priority countries and regions. * Turn requirements into programs: build the in-country partnerships, supply chain commitments, and industrial participation programs that win deals and satisfy government obligations, working hand-in-hand with country/regional teams and business lines. * Fuel the pipeline: partner with country teams, business lines, and Corporate Development to identify, shape, and convert large-scale capture opportunities. * Quarterback complex captures: bring localization expertise to major pursuits, aligning offers, partners, and commitments to maximize win probability. * Build the partner ecosystem: in partnership with Anduril's Supply Chain and Production organizations, source and establish relationships with local primes, suppliers, and industrial partners that make Anduril a credible, durable in-country player. * Navigate the rules: translate offset regimes, local content requirements, and industrial participation obligations into actionable, compliant strategies that hold up over the life of a program. * Scale the function: establish the frameworks, metrics, and discipline to manage industrial participation commitments across a fast-growing global portfolio. Build the playbook for localization to support all Anduril business lines. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS * Demonstrated experience negotiating and executing in-country partnerships, teaming arrangements, JVs, or supply chain commitments with foreign governments and industry. * A proven track record of successfully structuring and delivering offset and/or industrial participation programs. * Robust knowledge of and experience navigating localization frameworks, offset regimes, and industrial cooperation for defense and technology projects internationally. * Deep working knowledge of offset regimes, local content requirements, and industrial participation obligations across multiple regions (e.g., Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East). * Strong commercial and financial acumen; you can model the cost, value, and risk of offset/industrial participation commitments over a program lifecycle. * Ability to travel internationally 50-75% of the time. * Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor's degree, ideally in technology or engineering, required; advanced degree (MBA, international relations, or related) strongly preferred. * Experience with integrated complex systems and defense programs involving hardware and software. * Experience with government business development, government contract structures, government proposal processes a plus. * Experience managing complex technical government projects a plus. * Familiarity with enterprise AI and autonomous systems a plus. 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: Benefits At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits . 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 . * 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 . 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/ . By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. 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