Design Engineer, DFM / DFA

Crosslinked; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

equity grants

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer focused on DFM/DFA to design robust hardware across autonomous systems. You will own components from concept through prototype to production, ensuring manufacturability and high quality.

The role requires 3+ years in design with DFM/DFA, strong CAD skills (SolidWorks/NX/Creo), and ASME Y14.5 GD&T proficiency. Eligibility for US security clearance is required. On-site work with competitive compensation is offered.

Qualifications

• BS required in a relevant engineering field
• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design with DFM/DFA
• ASME Y14.5 GD&T expertise for drawings and tolerance stack-ups
• Eligible to obtain/maintain US Security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Design robust, manufacturable hardware across Anduril's portfolio of systems
• Own components and assemblies from concept through prototype to high-rate production
• Create and release engineering drawings per ASME Y14.5 and ensure traceability
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve issues
• Mentor junior hardware engineers in drawing standards and GD&T

Skills

DFM & DFA

CAD design

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Tolerance analysis

Manufacturing knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

PDM/PLM

CNC machining

Job description

Design Engineer, DFM / DFA

Location: Costa Mesa, CAtoday

Salary: $129k – $171k (from the posting)

Seniority: Mid-level

Work: On-site

Type: Full-time

Degree: BS

Experience: 3+ yrs

Industry: Defense

Role: Process Engineering

Schedule: Standard

Clearance: Ability to obtain

Materials: injection-molded plastics, composites, adhesives

Techniques: DFM/DFA, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance stack-up analysis, DFMEA

Benefits

• equity grants

Role Details

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.

What You'll Do

As a Mechanical Design Engineer focused on DFM/DFA, you will sit at the critical intersection of product design and production reality. You will be directly responsible for designing robust, mission-ready, and highly manufacturable hardware across Anduril's portfolio of autonomous air, land, and maritime systems. You will own components and assemblies from concept through prototype fabrication and high-rate production, ensuring our hardware can be rapidly built, scaled, and deployed at the speed of mission need.

Key Responsibilities

• Design for Scale: Apply rigorous DFM and DFA principles across all phases of product development to maximize production throughput, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
• Multi-Discipline Mechanical Design: Design parts and complex assemblies leveraging a wide range of manufacturing processes:
• Welded structures (MIG, TIG, FCAW, and automated processes)
• Precision 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining
• Injection-molded plastics and tooling considerations
• Advanced composite manufacturing (layup, molding, and secondary operations)
• Structural bonding, encapsulation, and adhesive joining
• Drawing Definition & GD&T: Author, check, and release fully defined engineering drawing packages in strict accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Production Enablement: Develop detailed, visual work instructions, process sheets, and assembly documentation that enable seamless execution on the production floor.
• Engineering Analysis: Perform comprehensive 1D/3D tolerance stack-up analyses, design reviews, and DFMEAs to de-risk manufacturing and assembly bottlenecks early.
• Floor Collaboration: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to troubleshoot issues, implement rapid design iterations, and streamline production.
• Mentorship & Technical Leadership: Mentor junior hardware engineers in drawing standards, GD&T application, and practical manufacturing best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience with a deep, proven focus on Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• High proficiency with modern 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, Creo) and associated PDM/PLM systems.
• Expert-level understanding and practical application of ASME Y14.5 (GD&T) for engineering drawings and tolerance stack-ups.
• Deep domain experience designing for at least three of the following:
• Complex weldments and welded joint architecture
• Precision machining and sheet metal
• Tooling and part design for injection molding
• Composite structures and manufacturing techniques
• Structural bonding and adhesive joining
• Experience creating clear, step-by-step manufacturing documentation, process specifications, and assembly instructions.
• Must be eligible to obtain / maintain US Security Clearance.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. *For more information,* *Explore Our Benefits.*