Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking a Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead warhead designs from prototype to production, focusing on mechanical design, integration, modeling, testing, and qualification. You will work with vendors and internal teams to accelerate development, ensure safety, and transition to production while maintaining high standards of reliability and performance.

Experience in ordnance systems and security clearance is preferred; the role offers competitive

Qualifications

• BS or higher degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• 5-10+ years' experience leading cross-functional teams to develop, analyze, and test new design concepts.
• Proficiency creating complex mechanical designs and drawings using CAD/PLM tools such as NX and Teamcenter.
• Experience executing tests to verify and validate designs meet system objectives and requirements.
• Experience preparing engineering documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports, technical data packages).
• Ability to travel as required for testing (surges up to 25%).
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
• Subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening.

Responsibilities

• Lead warhead and complex ordnance/munitions system designs from prototype to production.
• Develop mechanical designs, drawings, specifications, test procedures, technical reports, and engineering documentation.
• Create high-fidelity prototype assemblies and assess performance through rigorous testing.
• Execute and manage arena, ground, flight, and system-level testing of munitions products, including high-speed video capture, data analysis, and design iteration based on results.
• Develop project plans, program schedules, design-of-experiments, and coordinate safety protocols.
• Work with vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors supporting critical design, prototype, test, and production efforts.
• Support the assembly and disassembly of explosive test articles and precision targets.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment where engineers learn quickly, take ownership, and execute with urgency.
• IMPACT YOU'LL HAVE: Deliver Mission-Critical Defense Capabilities; Own End-to-End Product Development; Shape Mission Outcomes Through Engineering Excellence; Solve Complex Problems Across Disciplines.

Skills

Warhead design leadership

Mechanical design leadership

System integration

Testing & qualification

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Mechanical/Aerospace or related engineering

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

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 Lethality team is a diverse, multidisciplinary group with one common goal: to enable Anduril products to achieve decisive effects on target. The team brings over 100 years of combined experience designing, analyzing, manufacturing, testing, and fielding ordnance assemblies designed for complex operational environments.

Our engineers and technicians work closely with multiple business lines to provide core warhead and explosivesexpertisefor Anduril. This vertically integrated approach allows us to design and develop payload solutions directly alongside the delivery vehicle, enabling Anduril toprovidethe warfighter operational capabilities faster than ever before.

The Lethality teamoperateswith a strong bias toward execution and a hands-on commitment to delivering on schedule. Team members are expected to take ownership, work directly with vehicle teams, collaborate across engineering and operations, and rapidly turn technical concepts into reliable, safe, and performant systems that can be produced and deployed at scale

ABOUT THE JOB

Our warfighters need lethal systems capable of deterring our adversaries and defending our allies. The Anduril Lethality Team is looking for a Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer who is up for the challenge: lead new warhead designs from prototype to production at Anduril speed. This role is focused on warhead mechanical design, platform integration, modeling and simulation, performance testing, qualification assessment, and transition to production.

Yes, you heard that right! We want to pay you to blow stuff up!

This role is a strong fit for creative engineers who are willing to learn and want to take ownership in leading a program developing new mechanical designs from the ground up. We are a hands-on, fast-paced team working on technically demanding systems where mechanical design and system safety have a direct impact on mission outcomes.

At the Senior level, a background in warhead design is strongly preferred but notrequired. Strong mechanical concept development skills, hands-on experience leading teams to develop complex systems, and a continued desire to learn are the keys to being successful in this role.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead warhead and complex ordnance/munitions system designs from prototype to production.
• Develop mechanical designs, drawings, specifications, test procedures, technical reports, and engineering documentation.
• Create high-fidelity prototype assemblies and assess performance through rigorous testing.
• Execute and manage arena, ground, flight, and system-level testing of munitions products, including high-speed video capture, data analysis, and design iteration based on results.
• Develop project plans, program schedules, design-of-experiments, and coordinate safety protocols.
• Work with vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors supporting critical design, prototype, test, and production efforts.
• Support the assembly and disassembly of explosive test articles and precision targets.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment where engineers learn quickly, take ownership, and execute with urgency.
• IMPACT YOU'LL HAVE
• Deliver Mission-Critical Defense Capabilities : Your warhead and munitions systems will directly enhance national security and protect those who serve on the front lines.
• Own End-to-End Product Development : Take full ownership of complex mechanical systems frominitialconcept through prototype, testing, qualification, and transition to production—delivering capabilities at unprecedented speed.
• Shape Mission Outcomes Through Engineering Excellence : Apply mechanical engineering fundamentals to systems where performance, reliability, manufacturability, and safety converge todeterminesuccess in the field.
• Solve Complex Problems Across Disciplines : Partner with analysis, test, safety, manufacturing, vehicle integration, and operations teams to tackle engineering challenges that push the boundaries of defense technology.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BS or higher degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• 5-10+ years' experience leading cross-functional teams to develop, analyze, and test new designconcepts.
• Proficiencycreating complex mechanical designs and drawings using CAD/PLM tools such as NX and Teamcenter.
• Experience executing tests to verify andvalidatedesigns meet systemobjectivesand requirements.
• Experiencepreparing engineering documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports, technical data packages).Ability to travel asrequiredfor testing (surges up to 25%).
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
• Eligible to obtain andmaintainan active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
• Subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT STAFF LEVEL

• 10-15+ years' experience leading cross-functional teams to develop, analyze, and test new designconcepts.
• Experience in design and testing of ordnance/munitions systems.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Active U.S. security clearance (DoD Secret or Top Secret, or DOE L or Q).
• Experience in design and testing of ordnance/munitions systems.
• Experience scaling mechanical components to production volumes.
• Experience with DoD Weapons Safety Boards.

US Salary Range

$166,000 - $220,000 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.