Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Protection Systems, High-Speed Missiles

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

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to own and scale the production lines for hypersonic missile programs, bridging design and manufacturing to deliver high‑rate production. You will develop advanced TPS processes and collaborate with design teams to enable repeatable, scalable manufacturing.

You will drive tooling development, LRIP transitions, and quality documentation while ensuring readiness for high‑performance propulsion integration in evolving defense systems.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering.
• Hands‑on experience with high‑temperature materials (carbon‑carbon, CMCs, ablatives).
• Experience leading qualification of aerospace‑grade materials and test plans.
• Experience developing, scaling, and documenting TPS manufacturing processes.
• Willingness to travel periodically (<20%).
• U.S. Person status to access export‑controlled information.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security clearance.
• 8+ years of manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the production line: design, commission, and optimize lines, work cells and floor layouts for hypersonic programs.
• Bridge design and manufacturing: drive DFM and DFA with design engineers during development.
• Pioneer advanced processes: develop and scale TPS materials and propulsion integration.
• Design tooling & equipment: procure and qualify tooling and automated assembly equipment.
• Drive from prototype to rate: lead transition from prototyping to LRIP and high‑rate production.
• Solve complex shop‑floor challenges: troubleshoot and resolve engineering and production issues.
• Author technical standards: create MBOMs, routing, and quality documentation.

Skills

TPS Materials Expertise

Material Qualification

Manufacturing Process Development

Travel

U.S. Person Status

Security Clearance

8+ Years Experience

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Missiles Manufacturing Engineering team at Anduril is dedicated to rewriting the playbook for precision strike and deterrent capabilities. Modern threats demand a paradigm shift in how tactical weapons are designed and produced, and our team is rapidly scaling production to deliver the unprecedented volume, speed, and affordability that U.S. and Allied forces require. On this team, you will have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking programs like our Barracuda family of air‑breathing missiles—including all of its highly adaptable sub‑variants—as well as cutting‑edge hypersonic missile systems and a pipeline of next‑generation strike technologies. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will own the production lifecycle of one of these critical weapons systems, driving high‑rate assembly lines and leading rapid production ramps from prototype to scale. In this role, you will be deeply embedded in the entire lifecycle of these state‑of‑the‑art systems, bridging the gap between initial design and physical production. You will have the autonomy to take on massive, complex projects and own them from cradle to grave. We are looking for engineers with a fierce sense of ownership and an insatiable drive to push their technical boundaries. If you thrive in the face of ambiguity, welcome the challenge of complex engineering problems, and are excited to step outside of your comfort zone to build the future of defense, this is the place for you. Your work will directly reshape global deterrence and change the balance of defense capabilities on a global scale. Apply now and become part of our mission to secure a safer tomorrow.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Manufacturing Engineer supporting Thermal Protection Systems on the High‑Speed Missiles team, you will be at the absolute bleeding edge of aerospace and defense technology. Hypersonic flight—sustained travel at speeds of Mach 5 and beyond—represents one of the most demanding engineering challenges of our time. To survive these extreme environments, our vehicles must withstand intense thermal, aerodynamic, and structural forces. Historically, hypersonic systems have been built like low‑volume, bespoke science projects. At Anduril, we are changing that. Your mission is to bridge the gap between cutting‑edge physics and high‑rate industrial output. You will be the bridge between design and production, transforming highly complex, next‑generation hypersonic vehicles into manufacturable, repeatable, and scalable products. This is a high‑impact, high‑ownership role. You will not just be maintaining a pre‑existing assembly line; you will be architecting the future of hypersonic production from the ground up.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own the Production Line: Design, commission, and continuously optimize the assembly lines, work cells, and floor layouts for our hypersonic missile programs.
• Bridge Design and Manufacturing: Collaborate intimately with design engineers during the early development phases to drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA), ensuring the vehicle is optimized for high‑rate production.
• Pioneer Advanced Processes: Develop and scale manufacturing processes for exotic materials, advanced composite structures, thermal protection systems (TPS), and high‑performance propulsion integration (such as rocket motors and air‑breathing engines).
• Design Tooling & Equipment: Architect, procure, and qualify custom assembly tooling, fixtures, and automated assembly equipment to increase throughput and quality.
• Drive From Prototype to Rate: Lead the transition of hardware from first‑article prototyping through Low‑Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and into mature, high‑rate manufacturing.
• Solve Complex Shop‑Floor Challenges: Act as the first line of defense for the manufacturing floor, rapidly troubleshooting and resolving complex engineering and production anomalies.
• Author Technical Standards: Create and maintain work instructions, manufacturing bills of materials (MBOMs), routing, and quality documentation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Educational Background: B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• TPS Materials Expertise: Hands‑on experience working with High‑Temperature Materials (e.g., Carbon‑Carbon, Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), ablatives, or high‑temperature insulation/tiles).
• Material Qualification: Direct experience leading or supporting the qualification of aerospace‑grade materials, including defining test plans (thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing) and executing to aerospace/defense standards.
• Manufacturing Process Development: Experience developing, scaling, and documenting manufacturing processes for TPS components (e.g., layup, curing, pyrolysis, densification, machining, or bonding/integration).
• Travel: Willingness to travel periodically (<20%) to support global manufacturing operations.
• U.S. Person Status: Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.
• Clearance Status: Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security clearance.
• YoE: 8+ years of experience working in manufacturing or related field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Hypersonic / Re‑entry Experience: Prior experience specifically working on hypersonic flight vehicles, re‑entry vehicles, rocket nozzles, or space capsule thermal shields.
• High‑Temperature Characterization: Familiarity with high‑temperature material testing methods (e.g., arc‑jet testing, oxy‑acetylene torch testing, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), or laser‑heating tests).
• Advanced Bonding & Assembly: Deep understanding of high‑temperature adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and integration techniques used to attach TPS to metallic or composite airframe structures.
• Vendor & Supply Chain Management: Experience working with external material suppliers and test facilities to source, qualify, and scale raw materials and specialized manufacturing processes.
• Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE): Familiarity with NDE methods used for composite/TPS inspection, such as ultrasound, thermography, or X‑ray/CT scanning.

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:

Benefits

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.