Design Engineer, DFM / DFA

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer focused on DFM/DFA to design robust, high-rate production hardware for autonomous air, land, and maritime systems. You will own components from concept to production, ensuring manufacturability and scalability across portfolios.

Role requires hands-on design experience, strong CAD skills, GD&T mastery, and the ability to collaborate across manufacturing teams. Eligible for US security clearance; salary range provided for US-based roles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design with DFM/DFA focus.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, Creo) and PDM/PLM systems.
• Expert-level GD&T understanding and application per ASME Y14.5 for drawings and tolerances.
• Experience with welded structures, precision machining, injection molding tooling, composites, and bonding.

Responsibilities

• Design for Scale: apply DFM/DFA to maximize throughput, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
• Multi-Discipline Mechanical Design: develop parts and assemblies across welding, CNC, molding, composites.
• Drawing Definition & GD&T: create and release fully defined drawings per ASME Y14.5.
• Production Enablement: craft detailed work instructions and process sheets for assembly.
• Engineering Analysis: perform tolerance stack-ups, design reviews, and DFMEAs.
• Collaboration: partner with Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality, and Supply Chain on issues and iterations.
• Mentorship: guide junior hardware engineers in drawing standards and manufacturing practices.

Skills

DFM/DFA expertise

CAD software (SolidWorks/NX/Creo)

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Welding experience

CNC Machining

Injection molding tooling

Composite structures

Manufacturing documentation

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

PDM/PLM systems

Job description

Anduril 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.

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.

US Salary Range

$129,000—$171,000 USD

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.