Propulsion Manufacturing Test Engineer, Missiles

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

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Propulsion Manufacturing Test Engineer to lead test activities for production-ready propulsion systems and micro-turbojets. You will own test setups, develop software for data acquisition on Linux/Unix, and ensure safe, high-fidelity testing of engine sub-assemblies, with direct collaboration with propulsion development engineers.

The role requires hands-on experience with micro-turbojet testing, CAN bus interfaces, and sensor calibration, plus the ability to act

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or related field.
• 3+ years propulsion testing, HIL, or engine test cell operations.
• Direct experience as Test Director or lead during live engine/hot-fire operations.
• Experience wiring and building test racks, instrumentation boxes, and DAQ systems.
• Proficiency writing automated test, control, and data acquisition software in Python on Linux/Unix.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Test Director during hot-fire runs and manage test stand operations.
• Design, build, and maintain propulsion test hardware infrastructure.
• Write and maintain Python-based test software for engine profiles and telemetry.
• Implement CAN bus interfaces and ECU communications for data logging.
• Develop test plans, run procedures, and acceptance criteria with engineers.
• Calibrate and integrate propulsion test instrumentation (sensors, loads, flow meters).
• Configure Linux/Unix test systems, use SSH, and troubleshoot networks.
• Perform rapid root-cause analysis for unexpected engine behaviors.
• Analyze post-test telemetry and generate detailed test summaries.
• Drive improvements in turnaround time and safety across test cells.

Skills

Test director operations

Python programming

Linux/Unix proficiency

CAN bus interface

Test stand operations

Instrumentation wiring

Engine test cell operations

RTD/thermocouples workflow

Data acquisition and telemetry

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical

Tools

National Instruments cDAQ/cRIO

Linux command line tools

Job description

Propulsion Manufacturing Test Engineer, Missiles

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

The Barracuda Manufacturing Team is responsible for rapidly iterating and building cutting-edge defense hardware for the Warfighter. This responsibility includes everything in the manufacturing value-chain, including, but not limited to, Design for Manufacturability work, tool design & selection, process creation & optimization, vendor sourcing & interaction, quality planning, and work documentation associated with the hardware that the Manufacturing Engineer owns.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a Propulsion Test Engineer, you will develop, build, and execute the test campaigns that qualify mission-critical air vehicle propulsion systems and micro-turbojets for production. In this role, you will take ownership of the physical and software test setups that validate engine performance, reliability, and operating limits, working directly with propulsion development engineers to adapt test capabilities as engine designs evolve. Every Propulsion Test Engineer is responsible for the full lifecycle of engine testing. You will design and fabricate physical test racks and instrumentation suites, write Python-based test software on Linux/Unix platforms, and control and monitor engine sub-assemblies over CAN bus networks. Crucially, you will act as the Test Director during live engine and micro-turbojet hot-fire runs—owning test cell safety, command execution, real-time data monitoring, and emergency abort sequences to ensure safe, repeatable, and high-fidelity testing.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Serve as Test Director during engine and micro-turbojet hot-fire runs, managing test stand operations, console communication, go/no-go criteria, and emergency abort procedures
• Design, build, and maintain propulsion test hardware infrastructure, including instrumented test racks, sensor harnesses, engine test stands, and thrust measurement fixtures
• Author comprehensive propulsion test plans, run procedures, redline limits, and acceptance criteria in close collaboration with development engineers
• Develop robust, automated test and data acquisition software in Python running on Linux/Unix systems to control engine profiles and record telemetry
• Implement and debug CAN bus communications to interface with Engine Control Units (ECUs), smart actuators, fuel pumps, and test stand controllers
• Integrate and calibrate propulsion test instrumentation, including load cells, pressure transducers, thermocouples/RTDs, mass flow meters, and vibration sensors
• Configure, operate, and troubleshoot Linux/Unix test systems using terminal command-line tools, SSH, and network debugging utilities
• Perform rapid root-cause analysis (RCCA) on unexpected engine behaviors, instrumentation dropouts, or hardware anomalies observed during test execution
• Analyze post-test steady-state and transient telemetry (thrust, fuel flow, turbine inlet temperature, spool response) and generate detailed test summary reports
• Maintain and scale propulsion test cell facilities, driving improvements in turnaround time, automated checkout procedures, and facility safety

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in managing control room operations, coordinating complex test schedules, and maintaining accurate inventory tracking systems.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in propulsion testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test setups, or engine test cell operations
• Direct, hands-on experience with micro-turbojet engine testing (mandatory)
• Proven experience serving as a Test Director, console operator, or lead test engineer during live engine runs or hazardous hot-fire operations
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, and wiring test racks, instrumentation boxes, and benchtop DAQ systems
• Proficiency writing automated test, control, and data acquisition software in Python within a Linux/Unix environment
• Strong Linux/Unix systems knowledge, including terminal command-line proficiency, SSH, and network configuration/debugging
• Hands-on experience with CAN bus hardware interfaces and messaging protocols for control and data logging
• Experience selecting, wiring, and calibrating sensors: pressure transducers, thermocouples, load cells, and flow meters
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Broader turbine, rocket, or internal combustion engine test experience
• Experience with fluid systems, high-pressure plumbing, fuel delivery lines, valves, and regulators (e.g., Swagelok)
• Familiarity with CAD tools (such as Siemens NX or SolidWorks) for engine test stand and mounting fixture design
• Experience with high-speed data acquisition platforms (e.g., National Instruments cDAQ/cRIO) and hardware-level signal conditioning
• Familiarity with AS9100 or aerospace quality standards as applied to flight hardware testing and validation
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance

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:

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.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.