NPI Technician

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking an experienced NPI Technician to support development, testing, and manufacturing of innovative systems.

You will assemble, test, and troubleshoot prototypes, participate in process development, first article builds, and ensure quality through inspection and data‑driven analysis. The role emphasizes cross‑functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and compliance with design verification and validation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a technician in NPI, manufacturing, or assembly environments.
• Hands-on assembly and troubleshooting of mechanical, electro-mechanical, and optical systems.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T and ability to read engineering drawings.
• Experience with CNC machining, injection molding, and precision assembly.
• Proficiency with micrometers, calipers, and CMMs.
• Familiarity with creating and utilizing test rigs, fixtures, and tooling to streamline production and testing.
• Experience with first article builds, design verification, and validation processes.
• Strong understanding of SPC and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Minitab).

Responsibilities

• Prototype assembly, testing, and troubleshooting of subsystems.
• Develop and refine manufacturing processes for new products.
• Support first article builds and transitions to production.
• Perform inspections using micrometers, calipers, CMMs.
• Set up and maintain fixtures, tooling, and test rigs.
• Validate incoming materials with suppliers.
• Collect data and perform statistical analysis.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Skills

NPI experience

Mechanical assembly

Electro-mechanical

Optical systems

GD&T

CNC machining

Injection molding

CMM inspection

SPC analysis

Data analysis

Tools

CAD - SolidWorks

CAD - NX

Excel

Minitab

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.

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company solving complex national security challenges through advanced hardware and software solutions. Our New Product Introduction (NPI) team is critical in bridging the gap between product design and scalable production. We are seeking an experienced NPI Technician to support the development, testing, and manufacturing of innovative systems.

This role requires extensive technical expertise, hands‑on problem‑solving skills, and the ability to collaborate cross‑functional teams to ensure the successful launch of new products.

What You’ll Do

• Prototype Assembly & Testing:
  • Assemble, test, and troubleshoot prototypes, subassemblies, and systems, including mechanical, electromechanical, and optical components.
  • Perform system‑level tests, operational verification, and functional testing to validate designs.
• Process Development:
  • Assist in developing and refining assembly and manufacturing processes for new products.
  • Provide input to engineering teams to improve manufacturability and streamline production workflows
• First Article Builds:
  • Support first article manufacturing, including design verification and validation processes.
  • Work with engineering and production teams to ensure smooth transitions from prototype to production.
• Inspection & Quality Control:
  • Conduct detailed inspections of components and assemblies using tools such as micrometers, calipers, and coordinate measuring machines (CMM).
  • Identify and document non‑conformances and assist in implementing corrective actions.
• Fixture & Tooling Support:
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to set up, maintain, and improve manufacturing fixtures, tools, and test rigs.
  • Support the calibration and maintenance of equipment to ensure reliability.
• Supplier Collaboration & Material Validation:
  • Work with suppliers to validate incoming materials and components, addressing quality and dimensional issues.
  • Support incoming inspections and validate supplier‑provided components meet specifications.
• Data Collection & Analysis:
  • Collect test and production data to inform design and process improvements.
  • Conduct statistical analysis of performance and quality metrics during early production runs.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Proactively identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, reduce bottlenecks, and increase production yield.
  • Provide feedback on design and assembly challenges to improve future product iterations.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a technician role within NPI, manufacturing, or assembly environments.
• Hands‑on experience with mechanical, electromechanical, and optical system assembly and troubleshooting.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) and the ability to interpret complex engineering drawings.
• Experience with manufacturing processes such as CNC machining, injection moulding, and precision assembly.
• Proficiency with inspection tools like micrometers, calipers, and CMMs.
• Familiarity with creating and utilizing test rigs, fixtures, and tooling to streamline production and testing.
• Experience with first article builds, design verification, and validation processes.
• Strong understanding of statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Minitab).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in transitioning products from prototype to high‑rate production.
• Familiarity with MIL standards, FAA, FDA, or other regulated industry compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of optical and mechanical systems, including light sources, fiber optics, and precision alignment.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, NX) for reviewing designs and tooling.
• Background in sensitivity analysis and functional testing of system performance.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.

Personal Attributes

• Detail‑oriented with a strong commitment to quality and precision in work.
• A proactive problem‑solver who excels in troubleshooting and resolving technical challenges.
• Team‑oriented with excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across departments.
• Thrives in fast‑paced, dynamic environments and adapts quickly to changing priorities.
• Motivated to contribute to projects that have a meaningful impact on national security.

US Hourly Range

$41.35-$54.80 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.

Data Privacy

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.

By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third‑party service provider to conduct pre‑employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third‑party service provider provides risk‑intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public‑record information, and other lawful open‑source or commercial data sources. This third‑party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.