Prototype Manufacturing Engineer: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Telemetry Today LLC; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to execute first builds and prototype manufacturing across AD&S programs, spanning mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid systems. You will work from incomplete design inputs, producing MVP work instructions and preliminary BOMs to drive producibility from the outset.

You will travel to production sites to support early builds, provide direct design feedback, and help transition hardware from prototype to initial production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, prototype development, or NPI with hands-on involvement in building new hardware – not just sustaining existing production lines.
• Demonstrated experience executing first builds or first-article production of mechanical or electromechanical hardware with incomplete or evolving design inputs.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, interpret GD&T, and work from 3D models.
• Experience writing work instructions, assembly procedures, or process documentation.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.

Responsibilities

• Execute first builds of new mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid system hardware across AD&S programs, working from preliminary or incomplete design inputs (unreleased models, draft drawings, verbal direction from design engineers).
• Develop MVP work instructions during and immediately after first builds – capturing assembly sequences, tooling needs, critical dimensions, torque values, and process notes sufficient for a technician to repeat the build.
• Establish preliminary BOM structures (Make/Buy determinations) based on first-build experience, identifying which components should be fabricated internally, procured, or sent to contract manufacturers.
• Provide structured design feedback to design engineers based on first-build observations – specifically addressing buildability, checkability, and repeatability.
• Document lessons learned from every first build and feed them to DFx engineers for incorporation into DFx reviews and design trade studies.
• Build and support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) units – Ironbirds, Copperbirds, and similar integration test articles – where the build method is undefined.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing issues in real time on the shop floor during first builds, including fit/interference problems and routing conflicts.
• Develop or source prototype tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids for first builds.
• Work with SME manufacturing engineers to validate process assumptions and ensure feasibility for design.
• Support transition of hardware from prototype to early production by transferring documentation and BOM structures.
• Collaborate with quality to identify inspection points and acceptance criteria emerging from first-build experience.
• Travel to production sites, supplier facilities, and integration locations to support first builds and prototype campaigns.

Skills

First-build execution

Cross-program adaptability

Strong communication

Self-directed

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

NX/CATIA/SolidWorks

Job description

Anduril Industries is seeking a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to execute first builds and prototype manufacturing across AD&S programs, spanning mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid systems. You will work from incomplete design inputs, producing MVP work instructions and preliminary BOMs to drive producibility from the outset.

You will travel to production sites to support early builds, provide direct design feedback, and help transition hardware from prototype to initial production.