Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality Hardware

Front Door Defense; Costa Mesa, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 166,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA, is seeking a Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead warhead mechanical design from prototype to production. You will guide cross‑functional teams, develop detailed drawings, and oversee rigorous testing to ensure mission-ready systems.

This role emphasizes fast ownership, safety, and collaboration with vendors, test teams, and suppliers. A Top Secret clearance is required, with travel for testing as needed.

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.
• Must be a U.S. Person, due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

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.

Skills

Leadership

Testing

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering

Tools

NX

Teamcenter

Job description

Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality

Own end-to-end warhead mechanical design program from concept to production

Location: Costa Mesa, California

Compensation: $166,000 - 250,000 USD / year

About The Role

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 Job

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 not required. 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 from initial concept 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 to determine success 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 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.
• Must be a U.S. Person, due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Additional Required Qualifications At Staff Level

• 10-15+ years' experience leading cross-functional teams to develop, analyze, and test new design concepts.
• 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 - $250,000 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.