Weekend Optical Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Ohio

The Launched Effects team at Anduril is responsible for scaling the manufacturing and delivery of the Altius family of systems (including the ALTIUS-600 and ALTIUS-700). As the premier Air-Launched Effects (ALE) platform for the U.S. military and its allies, ALTIUS is redefining modern warfare. These tube-launched, autonomous aerial systems must be built to survive extreme deployment environments, requiring precision manufacturing of advanced composites, complex avionics, and modular payload integrations for ISR, Electronic Warfare, and kinetic strike capabilities.
As part of the Launched Effects manufacturing team, you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge R&D and high-rate production. We are a fast-moving, mission-driven group of manufacturing engineers, quality specialists, and production operations experts who refuse to accept traditional, slow defense manufacturing timelines. We continuously optimize our assembly lines, implement automated testing, design for manufacturing (DFM), and build resilient supply chains to deploy reliable systems to the front lines at unprecedented speed. If you want to work on a team where your production and manufacturing decisions directly impact global security, this is it.

This role is about much more than just processes; it's about orchestrating the industrialization of a vital product. You will own the entire manufacturing value-chain for Altius, from current rate to high-volume deployment. Your responsibilities will span the spectrum: driving Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback into design, innovating tool design and selection, creating and optimizing high-rate production lines, fostering strategic vendor partnerships, embedding robust quality assurance throughout, and meticulously documenting build processes.
*This position is permanently based in Ashville, OH, and requires candidates to temporarily relocate for a comprehensive 3-month training program: 1 month in Santa Ana, CA, followed by 2 months (approximately) in Atlanta, GA. To support your transition, Anduril will fully provide and cover all corporate housing, transportation, and travel accommodations during this training period. Your recruiter will discuss the logistics of this program with you in detail during the hiring process

• Execute the manufacturing of a certain product or set of products, from initial prototyping through large full-scale production.
• Work with design engineers during the development process to drive design for manufacturing best practices into the design effort, and help facilitate the transition from design to prototype to rate production.
• Act as a manufacturing laison for mechanical fabrication and avionics with subject matter expertise in these areas and key experience in design for manufacturability.
• Own documentation required for successfully manufacturing product group hardware at scale, such as MBOM's, work instructions & requirements, etc.
• Advise on quality management and business application programs as they pertain to manufacturing within your area.
• Collaborate with internal customers and manufacturing planning teams to define capacity planning actions to meet customer needs and expectations.
• Analyze metrics for continuous improvement initiatives (cost reduction, QI reduction & capacity increase).
• Instill a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering product team.
• Develop production and test methodologies and implement best practices to enable scaling production capabilities for larger, more complex products.
• Travel to suppliers and partner sites to do initial sourcing work, solve ongoing production issues, and implement process procedures as required.

• Degree in a technical field preferred such as engineering, math, or a hard science.
• 3+ years of experience in a relevant field, preferably manufacturing or design of electromechanical hardware.
• Demonstrated ability to creatively deliver electromechanical hardware in a resource-constrained environment.
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication.
• A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning.
• Candidates must demonstrate flexibility and dedication, being prepared to work extended hours and weekends when dictated by critical business priorities.
• Regular travel between our various locations is an essential component of this role.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

• 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.