Prototype Manufacturing Engineer: First Builds & DFx

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to lead first builds across AD&S programs. You will work from incomplete design definitions to determine build methods, generate MVP work instructions, and draft preliminary BOMs.

You will partner with design, DFx, and SME teams to drive producibility and document lessons learned for future production. You will also develop tooling and fixtures, resolve on-the-floor issues, and support transition to early production.

Responsibilities

• Execute first builds of mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid system hardware across AD&S programs, from incomplete design inputs.
• Develop MVP work instructions capturing assembly sequences, tooling needs, dimensions, torque values, and repeatable build steps.
• Establish preliminary BOM structures and Make/Buy determinations based on first-build experience.
• Provide structured design feedback on buildability, inspectability, and repeatability to design engineers.
• Document lessons learned from each first build for DFx and DFA reviews and design trades.
• Build and support Hardware-in-the-Loop units where build methods are undefined and must be figured out.
• Identify and resolve shop-floor manufacturing issues on first builds (fit, access, routing, sequences).
• Develop or source prototype tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids for first builds.
• Validate manufacturing process assumptions with SME engineers (welding, composites, tube forming, bonding).
• Support transition from prototype to early production with complete documentation and BOMs.
• Collaborate with quality to define inspection points and acceptance criteria for un-drawn features.
• Travel 15-20% to production sites, supplier facilities, and integration locations.

Job description

Anduril Industries is seeking a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to lead first builds across AD&S programs. You will work from incomplete design definitions to determine build methods, generate MVP work instructions, and draft preliminary BOMs.

You will partner with design, DFx, and SME teams to drive producibility and document lessons learned for future production. You will also develop tooling and fixtures, resolve on-the-floor issues, and support transition to early production.