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Program Manager, Homeland Air Defense
Irvine, CAApril 6th, 2026
Program Manager, Homeland Air DefenseAnduril 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 TeamThe Air Defense team builds robots that find other robots and knock them out of the sky. At a time when air superiority can no longer be taken for granted, the Air Defense team provides mission critical capabilities to protect the nation's most important assets. From detection to tracking, identification, deterrence, and defeat, our family of networked sensors, effectors, and Command & Control (C2) software enables our customers to rapidly close the kill chain against a broad range of UAS threats. Working across product, engineering, business development, logistics, and operations, the Air Defense team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril Air Defense Family of Systems in challenging operational environments worldwide.
About The JobOur Air Defense team is responsible for developing and fielding CUAS capabilities around the world. We are seeking a Program Manager to join our growing team focused on protecting critical national security assets within the United States. This role is designed for a strong operator who will help scale our domestic, civilian, and commercial deployments. Operating CUAS capabilities inside the United States requires a combination of technical rigor, operational excellence, and regulatory awareness. Our systems must integrate seamlessly with civilian airspace operations while meeting federal, state, and local legal authorities governing counter-drone activity. Our customers depend on precise execution, regulatory compliance, and professional fielding in environments where safety, legal authority, and public trust are paramount. This role is responsible for driving program execution to protect critical infrastructure, government facilities, and commercial sites. You will serve as the operational expert for domestic Air Defense deploymentsensuring systems, personnel, training, documentation, and regulatory requirements are aligned for mission success. You will build repeatable deployment processes, manage cross-functional coordination, and serve as the connective tissue between technical teams and customers. You will operate at the intersection of technology development, operational deployment, and customer engagement - serving as a key integrator across teams and ensuring the program executes effectively and efficiently at scale. You will directly support program cost, schedule, risk management, executive reporting, and strategic execution. This role is ideal for an operator who thrives in ambiguity, is comfortable in front of customers and executives, wants to scale at speed, and build long-term sustainable operations.
What You'll DoProgram ExecutionDevelop and maintain program execution frameworks, milestones, and reporting structures to ensure alignment across technical and operational teams
Drive program coordination across engineering, product, growth, compliance, and supply chain
Develop executive-level reporting, dashboards, and briefings to communicate program health and progress to leadership
Identify program risks early and drive mitigation strategies across technical and operational stakeholders
Ensure program execution aligns with applicable federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks governing domestics CUAS operations
Coordinate with regulatory and policy stakeholders to support deployments operating within FAA, DHS, and other relevant authorities
Serve as subject matter expert to ensure operational concepts and deployment strategies reflect real-world legal and regulatory constraints as well as operational realities
Deployment PlanningOversee planning and coordination of CUAS deployments from planning and logistics through on-site activation to long-term sustainment
Develop structured deployment plans, readiness gates, and operational checklists to ensure repeatable execution
Coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver mission-ready capabilities to customer sites
Lead after-action reviews and capture lessons learned to continuously improve deployment velocity and quality
Stakeholder EngagementServe as senior program representative during key deployments and operational activities
Ensure clear, proactive communication across internal stakeholders and external customers
Drive stakeholder alignment across technical, operational, and regulatory teams to ensure program decisions are made quickly, transparently, and in support of mission success
Ensure coordination between program leadership, field operations, and customer stakeholders to maintain readiness and program credibility
Required Qualifications6+ years of experience in deployment operations, defense programs, aerospace systems, logistics, or technical project management
Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional programs involving hardware and software systems in high-stakes or regulated environments
Experience working with domestic government entities, critical infrastructure operators, or regulated commercial customers
Strong operational rigorability to build structured plans, manage concurrent workstreams, and execute against tight timelines
Proven ability to cut through ambiguity and drive cross-functional alignment without formal authority
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable briefing senior leadership and customer executives
Willingness to travel up to 30% as program and deployment needs require
Eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Preferred QualificationsFamiliarity with the domestic CUAS operating environment with direct experience work on sensor networks, autonomy, or ISR platforms
Knowledge of FAA coordination, regulatory compliance, and operational integration within civilian infrastructure
Prior experience in a Deputy Program Manager, Program Analyst, or Technical Program Management role
Familiarity with domestic airspace regulations, FAA coordination, or CUAS legal frameworks
Background in DoD, DHS, or critical infrastructure protection programs
Experience scaling operations from early-stage deployments to sustained production and fielding
MBA or advanced degree in Business, Public Policy, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
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