Low Observables Technician

Anduril; Ashville (OH); On-site; USD 78,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Low Observable Technician to join our advanced manufacturing team in a hybrid role bridging composite structures and LO coatings. You will own surface geometry, finish, and interfaces to keep coatings LO-ready, working alongside LO paint and engineering to ensure quality and manufacturability.

Responsibilities include bodywork, masking, panel fitting, and sealant application, with strict adherence to MIL-specs and AS9100 quality requirements.

Qualifications

• Must read and interpret engineering drawings and MIL-spec documents.
• Experience with composite sanding, filling, and contouring to specified surface profiles.
• Knowledge of aerospace quality requirements and AS9100/Nadcap or equivalent.
• Ability to wear PPE and work extended periods.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Perform composite bodywork including sanding, filling, fairing, and contouring of carbon fiber/epoxy airframe surfaces.
• Apply and finish aerodynamic fillers, gap fillers, and seam sealants to panel interfaces and joints.
• Fit, trim, and install composite panels and LO-critical fairings to engineering tolerances.
• Fabricate minor composite repair patches and filler details as directed by engineering.
• Sand, contour, and blend repair areas to match outer mold line geometry.
• Perform full surface preparation of composite structures for LO coatings.
• Prepare masking layouts for complex LO coating schemes.
• Support LO paint team during spray operations: handling, booth setup, and edge treatments.
• Hand-apply LO edge treatments and RAM tapes.
• Touch-up LO coatings in tight areas.
• Interpret and work from drawings, 3D models, process specs, and MIL-spec documents.
• Maintain detailed process documentation and traceability.
• Identify process improvements for surface finishing and paint-prep workflows.

Skills

Reading drawings

Precision measurement

Aerospace quality

PPE compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Feeler gauges

Calipers

Micrometers

Contour templates

Surface profilometers

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 Low Observables Team is seeking a Low Observable Technician to join our team. The Air Dominance and Strike Low Observable Team are advancing into the next generation of LO Technology to enhance the survivability and effectiveness of unmanned air systems. Our Low Observables team is responsible for designing, analyzing, testing, manufacturing, and sustaining LO aircraft ensuring our systems remain undetectable in contested environments.

We are looking for a skilled Low Observable Technician to join our advanced manufacturing team. This is a hybrid role bridging composite structures and LO coatings — you will perform composite bodywork, aerodynamic surface finishing, gap and seam treatment, panel fitting, and structural surface preparation on low observable aircraft. You will also directly support the LO paint team during coating operations, including masking, material handling, wet- edge assistance, and hand-application of fillers and edge treatments. Think of this role as the person who makes the airframe paint-ready and keeps it that way — you own the surface geometry, smoothness, and structural interfaces that determine whether coatings will perform. When the painters spray, you’re in the booth alongside them. When a panel doesn’t fit flush, you’re the one who makes it right. If you have hands-on composite skills, understand what LO surfaces demand, and want to work on hardware that matters — this role is for you.

The right person for this role can demonstrate past holistic ownership on solving a technical challenge with a creative, physical, solution that they either personally manufacturing or oversee manufacturing on, in a fast-paced, resource-limited environment. If you are someone who thrives in such an environment, then this role is for you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Perform composite bodywork including sanding, filling, fairing, and contouring of carbon fiber/epoxy airframe surfaces to achieve aerodynamic and signature-compliant surface profiles.
• Apply and finish aerodynamic fillers, gap fillers, and seam sealants to panel interfaces, fastener locations, access doors, and structural joints to maintain LO surface continuity.
• Fit, trim, and install composite panels, access covers, and LO-critical fairings to engineering tolerances, ensuring flush fits and minimal step/gap at all interfaces.
• Fabricate minor composite repair patches, shims, and filler details using wet layup, pre-preg, or paste adhesive systems as directed by engineering.
• Sand, contour, and blend repair areas to match surrounding outer mold line (OML) geometry using templates, contour gauges, and straightedges.
• Perform full surface preparation of composite structures for LO coatings.
• Prepare masking layouts for complex LO coating schemes including multi-zone thickness requirements, edge treatments, and keep-out areas per engineering drawings.
• Support LO paint team during spray operations: material handling, booth setup, wet edge assistance, panel rotation/positioning, and environmental monitoring.
• Hand-apply LO edge treatments, RAM tapes, gap fill compounds, and conductive sealants to areas inaccessible by spray application.
• Perform touch-up and localized hand-application of primer and LO coatings in tight access areas, fastener recesses, and complex geometry zones.
• Interpret and work from engineering drawings, 3D models, process specifications, work instructions, and MIL-spec/company-spec documents.
• Maintain detailed process documentation: rework records, inspection data, material traceability, and panel fit measurements.
• Identify process improvements for surface finishing, panel fit, and paint-prep workflows we expect everyone to challenge the status quo and find faster, better methods.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in composite/metal structures: fabrication, repair, bonding, surface finishing, or assembly in aerospace, automotive, and/or composite production.
• Proficiency in composite sanding, filling, and contouring to achieve specified surface profiles (flatness, contour, roughness/waviness requirements).
• Experience with filler and sealant systems: mixing, application (trowel, squeegee, caulk gun, spatula), and finishing to flush/smooth condition.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, process specifications, and MIL-spec documents.
• Experience with precision measurement: feeler gauges, step gauges, calipers, micrometers, contour templates, and/or surface profilometers.
• Working knowledge of composite surface preparation methods for adhesive bonding and/or coating application (solvent wipe, abrasion, media blast, peel ply).
• Knowledge of aerospace quality requirements; experience working within AS9100, Nadcap, or equivalent quality management systems.
• U.S. Citizenship required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
• Ability to wear required PPE including full-face respirator, supplied air hood, chemical-resistant suit, hearing protection, and safety harness for extended periods.
• Ability to stand, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, and work in confined spaces or elevated platforms for extended periods. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years of LO structures or LO coatings support experience on military aircraft programs (F-22, F-35, B-21, B-2, B-21 or similar).
• Direct experience with LO gap/seam fill materials, edge treatments, and RAM tape application.
• Experience with both carbon fiber/epoxy and metallic (aluminum, titanium) structure finishing.
• Experience with composite repair methods: scarfing, wet layup, pre-preg patching, vacuum bagging, and post-repair contouring.
• Experience with HVLP spray application of primers and topcoats (cross-training with paint team is expected in this role).
• Experience qualifying new materials or processes (first article inspection, process validation).
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance.
• Experience in a startup, rapid-prototyping, or new product introduction (NPI) environment.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of electromagnetic signature principles as they relate to surface geometry, gaps, steps, and material transitions (not required, but valued — we want people whounderstand why flush surfaces matter beyond cosmetics).

US Salary Range: $78,000 - $102,000 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.