Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Sensors and Avionics

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries seeks a Lead Manufacturing Engineer for Space Manufacturing to own the manufacturing strategy for spacecraft electronics, optical sensors, and integrated units. You’ll drive DFMA, process development, tooling selection and supplier collaboration to ensure space-grade workmanship.

The role requires 8+ years in high-rel manufacturing, hands-on PCBAs/box-level assembly expertise, and an active U.S. Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in high-reliability sectors (aerospace/defense).
• Deep knowledge of IPC-610/620 Class 3, IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, NASA-STD-8739 series.
• Expert understanding of PCBA processes and box-level assembly.
• Hands-on depth in two of: electro-optical sensors, RF/radar, navigation units, power distribution.

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing process development for PCBAs, box-level assemblies and space-grade workmanship.
• Own sensor packages and optical assemblies, alignment, cleanliness and contamination control.
• Own navigation and radar assembly processes including calibration interfaces.
• Own communications assemblies across UHF–EHF bands with associated testing.
• Own power systems, harnesses and IPC-620/NASA-STD-8739.4 compliance.
• Interface with internal and external partners for capability assessment and improvements.
• Drive manufacturability and DFMA to reduce test burden via design/data.
• Specify and qualify tooling, fixtures, and test equipment; lead root-cause analysis and first article inspection.
• Act as owner of Anduril’s Manufacturing Development Process (MDP) and use Foundry/Teamcenter.
• Mentor and grow avionics, sensors, power systems and harness teams.

Skills

High-reliability workmanship

PCBA & box-level assembly

Root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, Fish-b

Design for Manufacturability

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering

Tools

Altium/AutoCAD Electrical

Foundry/Teamcenter

IPC standards knowledge

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril’s Space Manufacturing team is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to join our team. Your expertise will help ensure that our products meet the highest standards of quality and reliability at Anduril.

As the Lead Manufacturing Engineer for Sensors and Avionics, you will be a technical leader responsible for owning the manufacturing strategy and execution for the electronic, optical and electrical heart of the spacecraft. Your responsibilities span the entire value chain for these assemblies, including Design for Manufacturability, advanced process development, tooling and test equipment selection, supplier and partner technical management, quality system implementation, and comprehensive work documentation. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and grow this discipline into a team of four to six engineers as the production ramp builds, and drive manufacturing excellence across PCBA, box-level electronics, electro-optical instruments, and integrated spacecraft systems.

The ideal candidate demonstrates proven leadership in solving complex technical challenges with innovative, practical solutions in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments. You have successfully scaled manufacturing processes from prototype through production and have a track record of delivering high-reliability hardware on aggressive timelines.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Own manufacturing process development and documentation for PCBAs, box-level electronic assemblies and integrated electronic units, to space-grade workmanship standards (IPC-610/620 Class 3, IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, NASA-STD-8739 series).
• Own manufacturing and integration processes for sensor packages: visual and infrared optical trains, star and sun trackers, telescopes and interferometers — including optical alignment, cleanliness and contamination control.
• Own processes for navigation and radar assemblies — GPS and IMU navigation solutions, radar apertures and front ends — including alignment, calibration interfaces and RF handling discipline.
• Own processes for communications assemblies across UHF through EHF bands — TT&C, command and control, and high-data-rate links — plus flight instrumentation.
• Own power systems and harnessing: power distribution assemblies, cable and harness build to IPC-620 and NASA-STD-8739.4, routing, bonding and grounding.
• Serve as the principal production technical interface to our internal sensor partners and to external component, sensor and box vendors, assessing capability and driving manufacturability and workmanship improvements alongside Supplier Quality.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability and Assembly into these designs before CDR, and use design and statistical process control to reduce production test burden rather than absorbing it.
• Specify and qualify the assembly tooling, fixtures and test equipment these assemblies need, and own root cause analysis, PFMEA, process validation and first article inspection for the processes you own.
• Act as an owner and evangelist for Anduril’s Manufacturing Development Process (MDP), and use Foundry and Teamcenter as the system of record.
• Mentor and grow the engineers in this discipline — avionics, sensors, power systems and harnesses — and provide hands-on technical leadership to the technicians building these assemblies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, space, defense or another high-reliability industry, with a track record taking electronic or electro-optical hardware from development into production.
• Deep knowledge of high-reliability electronics workmanship standards — IPC-610/620 Class 3, IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, and the NASA-STD-8739 series for soldering, wire harness and conformal coating.
• Expert understanding of PCBA processes (SMT, through-hole, conformal coating, potting, component selection and screening) and box-level assembly (cabling, harnessing, mechanical integration, thermal, EMI/EMC).
• Hands‑on depth in at least two of: electro‑optical or infrared sensor assembly and optical alignment; RF or radar assembly and test; navigation units (GPS, IMU); power distribution and harness manufacture.
• Has reduced production test burden through design or statistical process control — combining, moving or eliminating tests on the strength of data rather than absorbing whatever the design requires.
• Has served as the manufacturing technical interface to internal engineering partners or external electronics and sensor suppliers, including capability assessment and workmanship or process improvement.
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis (8D, 5‑Why, Fishbone), PFMEA, corrective and preventive action, process validation and first article inspection.
• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• Willingness to travel up to 25%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Direct experience manufacturing satellite or spacecraft avionics, sensors or payloads (flight hardware), including cleanroom operations and contamination control.
• Radar, optical sensor or millimeter‑wave aperture manufacturing experience — at a premium for this role.
• Harness and cable design capability, including schematic reading and drawing in Altium, AutoCAD Electrical or similar.
• Knowledge of advanced electronics manufacturing technology: selective soldering, automated optical inspection, X‑ray inspection, conformal coating systems.
• Took an electronics or electro‑optical product from prototype or LRIP into rate production of 100+ units per year, including automation or semi‑automation of assembly.

US Salary Range

$146,000—$194,000 USD

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:

Benefits

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.