Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Space

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer for its Space Manufacturing team in California. The role focuses on owning manufacturing strategy, process development, tooling design, supplier management, and quality systems for complex spacecraft hardware.

You will mentor engineers and lead cross-functional efforts to deliver high-reliability hardware on aggressive timelines. The ideal candidate has 8+ years in manufacturing or prototyping, expertise in sensors/avionics or vehicle

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience in manufacturing or prototyping roles.
• Strong focus on quality, reliability and mission assurance in fast-paced environments.
• Experience scaling manufacturing from prototype to production.

Responsibilities

• Own the manufacturing strategy and execution for complex spacecraft hardware.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and mentor junior engineers.
• Develop tooling, fixtures and MGSE to support production and inspection.
• Drive process development, DFx, supplier technical management, and documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

Prototyping

Quality

Machining

Soldering

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering

Tools

NX/SolidWorks/CREO

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 ROLE

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, you will be a technical leader responsible for owning the manufacturing strategy and execution for complex spacecraft hardware. Our team's scope encompasses the entire vehicle integration value chain, including Design for Manufacturability, advanced manufacturing process development, tooling design & selection, supplier technical management, quality system implementation, and comprehensive work documentation. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and drive excellence across our products.

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

• Degree in a technical field such as engineering, math, or a hard science.
• 8+ years in manufacturing or similar prototyping position.
• 4+ years as a SME in either Sensors and Avionics, Vehicle Integration, or Propulsion and Energetics
• Demonstrated in-kind or direct team leadership skills, with backing examples.
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication.
• A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning.
• Demonstrated ability to creatively deliver hardware in a resource-constrained environment.
• Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years designing production tooling, fixtures or mechanical ground support equipment for aerospace, space, defense or another high-reliability industry.
• A portfolio of tooling or MGSE personally designed and saw through to released drawings, fabrication and use on the floor
• Strong CAD proficiency (NX, SolidWorks or CREO) with sound GD&T practice on tooling drawings.
• Structural sizing and load path analysis experience for handling and lift hardware, including proof load and lift certification requirements.
• Experience designing tooling or MGSE that operated inside a cleanroom, and can defend the material, coating and lubricant choices that made it acceptable. Familiarity with IEST-STD-CC1246 and ASTM E595.
• Experience specifying and procuring tooling or capital equipment through a supply chain - specifications, vendor selection, long-lead planning and acceptance - against a facility or program schedule.
• A quantified improvement delivered through tooling or automation - cycle time, ergonomic risk, defect rate or touch labor - that you can explain mechanically.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• Willingness to travel up to 25%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years designing production tooling, fixtures or mechanical ground support equipment for aerospace, space, defense or another high-reliability industry.
• Experience building or transforming successful production operation organizations and leading large-scale change management initiatives that influence culture, define tools & processes and improve competencies.
• Cleanroom manufacturing experience, or equivalent work in another contamination-controlled environment, with contamination control and FOD prevention discipline.
• Hands-on fluency with a manufacturing execution system and a PLM system as the system of record - build definition, work instruction or work order authoring, as-built records and production data. Teamcenter, SAP, Windchill or equivalent.
• Demonstrated success in scaling product testing and production from single units to hundreds per year.
• Experience leading and managing teams on fast-