Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager

As an Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager at Anduril Industries, your responsibilities will revolve around leading a team of mechanical engineers through the design, build, integration, and test phases of advanced imaging sensors. You will drive internal process development, collaborate with other disciplines to ensure systems function seamlessly, and provide technical direction to ensure precision and reliability in opto-mechanical systems. Additionally, you’ll mentor your team, fostering a positive work culture and motivating them to achieve ambitious goals.

To qualify for the Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager role at Anduril Industries, you should possess over 10 years of experience in hardware or product development, along with at least three years in a leadership position. A solid mechanical engineering background is essential, including experience from requirements definition to testing. Familiarity with Opto-Mechanical design is preferred, as is experience with PLM systems and optical design software such as Zemax or CodeV. Strong communication skills and a detailed-oriented approach are vital.

In the Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager position at Anduril Industries, you will engage with cutting-edge technologies focused on imaging sensors and opto-mechanical systems. This includes working with mechanical, electrical, and software systems to ensure they operate together flawlessly. You'll also be involved in using advanced design tools relevant to optical design, helping innovate and deliver solutions that meet contemporary military challenges.

At Anduril Industries, you'll find a company culture that promotes creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning. As an Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager, you'll be part of a high-energy team that emphasizes achieving ambitious goals while also maintaining a supportive and dedicated environment. Anduril’s leadership encourages a balance of mentorship and innovation, ensuring that all team members are empowered to contribute their best work and grow their skills in a thriving, inclusive workplace.

Anduril Industries is committed to the growth and well-being of its employees. As an Opto-Mechanical Engineering Manager, you will benefit from a professional development stipend, access to comprehensive mental health resources, and a generous holiday calendar. The company also provides competitive benefits, including healthcare and wellness programs, family planning support, and flexible work arrangements to ensure a healthy work-life balance, making it a fantastic place to grow your career.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects or roles where you contributed to opto-mechanical design. Discuss the technologies and processes you used, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Your goal is to showcase your technical expertise as well as your problem-solving skills in a relevant context.

Explain your approach to task prioritization by discussing how you assess project timelines and team capabilities. Mention tools or methodologies you use to organize work, such as Agile or Kanban, and provide an example of how this has helped you maintain productivity and efficiency in previous roles.

Select a technical concept that you've encountered and prepare a simple analogy or explanation that conveys its essence clearly. This demonstrates your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, which is crucial in a multidisciplinary environment where you need to collaborate with non-engineers.

Discuss a specific challenge you encountered in a past project, detailing the problem, your analytical approach to understanding it, and the steps you took to resolve it. Highlighting your resilience and leadership in these situations can illustrate your readiness for the challenges faced at Anduril.

Share your philosophy on team culture and specific actions you believe contribute to a healthy work environment, such as regular feedback, recognition of achievements, and fostering open communication. Provide examples of how you successfully implemented these practices in your previous roles.

Talk about techniques you utilize to promote interdisciplinary cooperation, such as regular cross-team meetings, shared documentation, and collaborative project management tools. Give examples that demonstrate your success in creating a cohesive working environment across different engineering functions.

Discuss the project management methodologies you are familiar with—Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, etc.—and provide examples of projects where you applied them effectively. Show how these methodologies helped you drive project success and meet tight deadlines.

Outline your conflict resolution approach, emphasizing open communication and mediation. Provide a concrete example where you've successfully navigated a conflict to restore team harmony, which showcases your leadership and people management skills.

Reflect on your mentoring strategy, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning, regular feedback, and guiding them on career development. Cite instances where your mentorship significantly benefited a junior engineer’s growth or contribution to a project.

Articulate your perspective on innovation's vital role in the defense sector, emphasizing how advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and opto-mechanical systems are essential for national security. This not only shows your understanding of current trends but also your passion for the field.