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How much do weapons manufacturing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for weapons manufacturing in the United States is $12.50, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.50 and $12.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is weapons manufacturing?

Weapons manufacturing is the process of designing, producing, and assembling various types of weapons and defense equipment, such as firearms, ammunition, explosives, and military vehicles. This industry involves advanced engineering, strict safety protocols, and adherence to government regulations. Weapons manufacturers typically work closely with military organizations, law enforcement agencies, and sometimes private security firms to supply high-quality, reliable equipment. The field requires expertise in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, quality assurance, and often includes research into new technologies to improve weapon performance and safety.

What is the job called when you make weapons?

The job of making weapons is typically called a weapons manufacturer, gunsmith, or armorer. These professionals design, assemble, and repair firearms and other weaponry, often working in manufacturing plants or specialized workshops, and may require technical skills and safety certifications.

What is the highest paying job in manufacturing?

In manufacturing, senior engineering roles such as Manufacturing Engineering Manager or Plant Manager tend to be among the highest paying positions, often earning six-figure salaries. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and knowledge of production processes and safety standards.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in weapons manufacturing roles?

Professionals in weapons manufacturing often encounter challenges related to maintaining strict safety and quality standards, as the industry is highly regulated. Adhering to detailed protocols and documentation is essential to ensure compliance with government and international regulations. Additionally, working collaboratively with engineers, quality assurance teams, and supply chain partners is crucial to meet tight production deadlines and manage complex projects. Adapting to rapidly evolving technology and security requirements can also be demanding, but it offers valuable opportunities for skill development and career advancement.

What is weapon manufacturing called?

Weapon manufacturing is commonly referred to as arms production or arms manufacturing. It involves designing, assembling, and testing firearms, ammunition, and other weapon systems, often requiring specialized skills, safety protocols, and adherence to government regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in weapons manufacturing, and why are they important?

To excel in weapons manufacturing, you need strong mechanical aptitude, understanding of manufacturing processes, and often a background in engineering or skilled trades. Familiarity with CAD software, CNC machinery, quality control systems, and knowledge of industry regulations or relevant certifications (such as ITAR or ISO) is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to safety are crucial soft skills in this field. These skills and qualifications are vital to ensure products meet strict safety, quality, and legal standards in a highly regulated and precise industry.

How to Get a Job in Weapons Manufacturing

The qualifications and skills that you need to get a weapons manufacturing job depend on the responsibilities of your position. Weapons engineering jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering or science subject. Specializations for this field include computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or ballistic engineering. Assemblers and technicians need at least a high school diploma or vocational degree. Some employers prefer to hire weapons manufacturing professionals with previous military experience or training. Design jobs related to the military require that you obtain a security clearance.

What is the difference between Weapons Manufacturing vs Gunsmith?

AspectWeapons ManufacturingGunsmith
Required CredentialsTechnical certifications, manufacturing trainingGun repair and customization certifications
Work EnvironmentFactories, assembly lines, industrial settingsGun shops, repair facilities, custom shops
Industry UsageMass production of firearms and military equipmentCustom firearm repair, modification, and restoration

Weapons Manufacturing involves large-scale production of firearms and military equipment in industrial settings, often requiring technical certifications. Gunsmiths focus on repairing, customizing, and restoring firearms in specialized shops, with certifications in gun repair. While both roles work with firearms, weapons manufacturing emphasizes mass production, whereas gunsmithing centers on individual firearm customization and repair.

What are the major weapons manufacturers?

Major weapons manufacturers include companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, and General Dynamics. These companies produce a wide range of military equipment, including aircraft, missiles, and defense systems, often requiring specialized engineering skills and security clearances for employment.
What cities are hiring for Weapons Manufacturing jobs? Cities with the most Weapons Manufacturing job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Weapons Manufacturing jobs? The most popular types of Weapons Manufacturing jobs are:
What states have the most Weapons Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for Weapons Manufacturing jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Weapons Manufacturing jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Weapons Manufacturing jobs are:
Infographic showing various Weapons Manufacturing job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $26,000 per year, or $12.5 per hour.
Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Barracuda

Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Barracuda

Anduril Industries

Ashville, OH • On-site

$100K - $124K/yr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


Anduril rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

ABOUT THE SITE
Anduril, a leader in autonomous systems and weapons manufacturing, is building Arsenal-1, its first hyper-scale manufacturing facility, just south of Columbus, Ohio in Pickaway County. Arsenal-1 is redefining the scale and speed that autonomous systems and weapons can be produced for the United States and its allies and partners. This is a monumental and essential step toward rebuilding America's defense industrial base, strengthening America's warfighting capabilities, and enhancing deterrence amid rising international threats.
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
The future of defense is being built right now, and Anduril's Barracuda product is at its leading edge. Barracuda is a family of air breathing autonomous air vehicles (AAVS) purpose-built for hyper-scale production and mass employment. The Barracuda family of AAVs consist of Barracuda-100, Barracuda-250, and Barracuda-500. Each increment offers increasing size, range and payload capacity, but all barracudas are compatible with a host of payloads and employment mechanisms, support a variety of different missions, and provide warfighters with an adaptable and upgradeable capability to counter evolving threats.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Barracuda Launch Team (BLT) will set the standard for building the future at Arsenal-1, our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ashville, OH. This team will have the opportunity to train under our world-class manufacturing team at Anduril HQ in Costa Mesa, CA for 3 months before bringing that standard of excellence back to Ohio.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and managing a manufacturing engineering team over a subset of Anduril's products to drive process improvements, ensure the highest quality of production, and support the development and implementation of new products and processes. You will play a crucial role in optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing costs, and increasing efficiencies on existing technologies while also developing new products and scaling to full scale production.
**This role requires candidates to relocate to Costa Mesa for a 3-month training program. Housing, transportation, etc. will be provided during your stay.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Direct and develop the manufacturing engineering team dedicated to the Barracuda 500 program. Oversee the complete industrialization process, from initial prototyping and design validation to establishing and scaling large-volume production lines
  • Responsible for setting strategic technical direction, driving continuous process improvement, evaluating team and project performance, and ensuring the highest standards of manufacturing efficiency and quality
  • Develop and execute strategic plans for production capabilities, incorporating new technologies and methodologies.
  • Own documentation required for successfully manufacturing product group hardware at scale, such as work instructions, inspection plans & requirements, etc.
  • Collaborate with product development teams to ensure manufacturability of new designs and smooth transition from prototype to production
  • Assist in the selection, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment and processes, ensuring optimal integration into production lines
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in cost reduction, quality enhancement, and throughput maximization
  • Manage budgets and forecast future manufacturing needs, including personnel, equipment, and materials
  • Establish and maintain robust training and documentation programs to enhance team skills and promote cross-functional knowledge sharing
  • Foster a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering department
  • Serve as the technical expert and point of contact for manufacturing engineering issues, providing guidance and support to resolve complex problems
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches, from initial design through to full-scale production
  • Liaise with vendors and suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of equipment and materials and maintain quality standards
  • Analyze production metrics and performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
  • Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements within the manufacturing process
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
  • Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with at least 3 years in a managerial role
  • Experience developing products from scratch and successfully scaling to production in industry leading timeframes
  • Proven track record of leading teams, developing new products and processes, and cradle to grave ownership
  • Experience driving process improvements in a manufacturing setting
  • An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication
  • A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning
  • Excellent project management skills and experience leading cross-functional projects
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
  • Ability to generate and manage metrics and dashboards
  • Technical expertise in manufacturing systems (MES, ERP, etc.)
  • U.S. Citizen Required
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Exposure to aircraft programs or other relevant aerospace & defense technologies
  • Software scripting experience in any language
  • Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) or equivalent experience
  • Familiarity with J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 or equivalent standards
  • Proficient in CAD software and familiar with modern manufacturing technologies and automation
  • Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus
  • Masters degree in engineering, business, or related field

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About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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