Prototype Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries seeks a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to lead first builds across mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid subsystems for AD&S programs. You will create MVP work instructions, craft preliminary BOMs, and provide direct manufacturing feedback to design teams.

This role requires hands-on hardware experience, strong problem solving, and the ability to adapt across programs. You will collaborate with DFx, SME engineers, and technicians to move from incomplete drawings to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, prototype/development, or NPI.
• Experience executing first builds or first-article production of hardware with evolving inputs.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, interpret GD&T, and work from 3D models.
• Experience writing work instructions, assembly procedures, or process documentation.
• Willingness to travel 15–20%.

Responsibilities

• Execute first builds of mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid system hardware across AD&S programs from incomplete design inputs.
• Develop MVP work instructions and preliminary BOM structures.
• Provide structured design feedback to engineers on buildability and repeatability.
• Document lessons learned for DFx, DFM/DFx reviews, and design trade studies.
• Build and support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) units and integration test articles.
• Identify and resolve shop-floor manufacturing issues in real time during first builds.
• Develop prototype tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids for first builds.
• Collaborate with SME and quality teams to validate process assumptions.
• Assist in transitioning hardware from prototype to early production.

Skills

First builds experience

Reading drawings

GD&T

Strong communication

Cross-program flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering (or related)

Tools

NX CAD

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

Prototype Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical & Fluid Systems

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 Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) Manufacturing Engineering team is seeking a Prototype Manufacturing Engineer to execute first builds and prototype manufacturing across our mechanical, structural, thermal management, and fluid systems (fuel, hydraulics, pneumatics) subsystems. This role spans the full AD&S portfolio of autonomous aircraft, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions – and is designed for an engineer who thrives in ambiguity, builds hardware with incomplete inputs, and treats every first build as an opportunity to generate the manufacturing knowledge that makes future production possible.

As a Prototype ME, you are the first manufacturing engineer on a new build. You will work from incomplete design definitions – often without released drawings or established work instructions – to figure out how hardware goes together, build the first units, and document what you learn. Your output is not just a built prototype; it is the MVP work instructions, preliminary BOM structure, buildability feedback, and lessons learned that the DFx and SME teams use to drive producibility improvements and prepare for rate production. You are the bridge between a design engineer's intent and the physical reality of how something gets built for the first time.

This is a cross-program role. You will move between AD&S programs based on where first builds are happening, bringing a consistent methodology to new hardware regardless of the product line. You will work closely with design engineers, DFx engineers, SME manufacturing engineers, and production technicians. The pace is fast, the inputs are messy, and the expectation is that you bring order to chaos – one build at a time.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• 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 (can you inspect it?), and repeatability (can someone else build it the same way?).
• Document lessons learned from every first build and feed them directly to DFx engineers for incorporation into formal DFM/DFA 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 and must be figured out from scratch.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing issues in real time on the shop floor during first builds, including fit/interference problems, fastener access issues, routing conflicts, and assembly sequence challenges.
• Develop or source prototype tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids needed for first builds – balancing speed with enough rigor that the tooling concept can inform production tooling decisions later.
• Work with SME manufacturing engineers to validate process assumptions – confirming that the manufacturing processes assumed in design (welding methods, composite layup approaches, tube forming techniques, adhesive bonding sequences) are feasible as designed.
• Support the transition of hardware from prototype to early production by ensuring first-build documentation, lessons learned, and BOM structures are complete and transferred to the product-owning ME team.
• Collaborate with quality engineering to identify inspection points and acceptance criteria that emerge from first-build experience – particularly for characteristics not yet captured in drawings or specifications.
• Travel to production sites, supplier facilities, and integration locations to support first builds and prototype campaigns (~15-20%, depending on program needs).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, prototype/development manufacturing, 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.
• Practical knowledge of mechanical manufacturing and assembly processes: CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, mechanical fastening, composite fabrication, tube bending/swaging, adhesive bonding, and mechanical integration.
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, interpret GD&T, and work from 3D models – and the judgment to know when something in the model won't work on the shop floor.
• Experience writing work instructions, assembly procedures, or process documentation – you've captured a build process well enough that someone else could repeat it.
• Strong communication skills and a willingness to give direct, specific design feedback to design engineers. You are not just flagging problems – you are proposing solutions.
• Comfort working across multiple programs simultaneously, shifting between products as first‑build needs arise.
• A genuine interest in building things and a drive to figure out how hardware goes together. Personal experience in a machine shop, fabrication shop, or working on hardware (machining, welding, assembly, personal projects) is a strong plus.
• Self‑directed and resourceful – you don't wait for complete inputs or perfect information. You find what you need, make reasonable assumptions, and close the loop.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in aerospace or defense prototype/development manufacturing, particularly with structural, thermal, or fluid system hardware.
• Exposure to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) builds, integration test articles, or similar one‑off/low‑volume integration hardware.
• Familiarity with AS9100 or similar quality management systems – enough to understand how prototype builds connect to production quality requirements.
• Proficiency in CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar) sufficient to navigate models and identify manufacturing concerns independently.
• Experience with composite manufacturing processes (layup, cure, bonding, machining) in a prototype or development context.
• Experience with fluid system assembly – tube routing, fitting installation, leak testing, cleanliness requirements.
• Familiarity with BOM management, ERP systems, or PLM tools used to structure manufacturing data.
• Experience developing or sourcing prototype tooling and fixtures.
• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

US Salary Range

$129,000 - $171,000 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. For more information, Explore Our Benefits .

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.