Head of Production Automation

The Head of Production Automation at Anduril Industries holds a crucial role that involves strategic oversight of production automation. Key responsibilities include directing the production automation team, architecting the automation strategy to ensure scalable operations, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and administering budgets while championing initiatives to enhance safety and productivity.

To be considered for the Head of Production Automation role at Anduril Industries, candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 7 years of relevant industry experience in leading production automation, along with expertise in IoT, ERP/MES systems, and programming languages, is essential.

As the Head of Production Automation at Anduril Industries, your work will directly influence the design and production of cutting-edge military technologies. By optimizing production processes and implementing innovative automation strategies, you'll ensure that the defense systems are developed efficiently and effectively, ultimately contributing to national security and military readiness.

The salary range for the Head of Production Automation position at Anduril Industries is between $190,000 and $285,000 USD. Factors such as work experience, education, and specific skills will influence the final salary offer, which is complemented by highly competitive equity grants and benefits.

Employees in the Head of Production Automation role at Anduril Industries can look forward to an array of benefits, including comprehensive healthcare plans, generous paid time off, professional development stipends, mental health resources, and supportive family planning options, alongside a dynamic work environment aimed at fostering innovation.

When discussing your experience, emphasize specific projects where you led automation initiatives, including technologies used and the outcomes of those projects. Highlight your leadership in scaling operations while maintaining quality and efficiency, relevant to Anduril's high-volume production environment.

In answering, focus on factors such as scalability, integration with existing ERP/MES systems, real-time data flow, and safety enhancements. Your answer should reflect an understanding of how to align automation strategy with business objectives in a defense manufacturing context.

Discuss your approach to fostering teamwork through regular communication, joint problem-solving sessions, and integrating feedback from various departments to create a cohesive strategy. Emphasize examples from your past experience where collaboration led to successful project outcomes.

Be specific about the programming languages you know, such as Python or JavaScript, and provide examples of how you've used them to automate processes, troubleshoot systems, or develop custom solutions in a manufacturing setting.

Reflect on a specific challenge, such as resistance to change or technical issues, and explain the actions you took to address it. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt in dynamic environments, which is critical for the role at Anduril Industries.

Provide a detailed account of a project, outlining the objectives, technologies used, and metrics for success. Discuss the impact on productivity, cost reduction, or quality improvements; showing an analytical approach contributes to your credibility.

Discuss methodologies for gathering real-time data, utilizing analytics tools, and how you would implement feedback loops to drive continuous improvement. Your answer should resonate with Anduril’s commitment to leveraging data in their operations.

Outline your approach to budget management, including forecasting future needs, resource allocation, and tracking expenses. Explain your methods for evaluating return on investment (ROI) for automation initiatives to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

Explain the significance of safety in automation, detailing how poorly designed systems can impact worker safety and operational integrity. Discuss strategies you would advocate for to ensure safety compliance and best practices in automation projects.

Share insights on emerging trends such as AI integration, machine learning, and advancements in IoT. Convey your enthusiasm for how innovations can drive efficiency and effectiveness in defense manufacturing, aligning with Anduril's mission.