Senior Mechanical Engineer: Optical Payload, Space

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Benefits

Income Protection

Generous time off

Mental Health Resources

Professional Development

Relocation Assistance

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to develop opto-mechanical designs for space payloads. You'll need a BS in engineering, 5-10 years of relevant experience, and the ability to secure Top Secret clearance. The position involves design responsibilities from concept to launch, collaboration with diverse teams, and ensuring high reliability in demanding environments. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package offered.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of mechanical design experience with space hardware.
• Ability to obtain U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
• Experience with exotic opto-mechanical materials.

Responsibilities

• Create opto-mechanical designs of space payloads.
• Conduct hand calculations and higher order thermal analyses.
• Own hardware design from concept to launch.

Skills

Mechanical design experience

CAD proficiency

Attention to detail

Experience with opto-mechanical materials

Education

BS or higher in engineering or hard science

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

Job description

Company Overview

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 Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war‑fighting domain.

What You’ll Do

• Create opto‑mechanical designs of space payloads ranging from small cameras to large telescopes
• Run finite element models and hand calculations to predict stresses in mechanical and optical components
• Contribute to STOP analyses to evaluate structural and thermal effects on optical performance
• Design payload mechanisms (focus mechanisms, shutters, filter wheels, etc.) that survive launch and space environments
• Conduct hand calculations and run higher order thermal analyses to evaluate survival and operational on‑orbit temperatures including solar loading effects through apertures and optics
• Design alignment features and conduct tolerance stack‑ups enabling sub‑arc‑second payload pointing and stability over large temperature ranges
• Own hardware design from concept to launch, intelligently pacing design maturity with a holistic program view
• Use first principles for every decision and continuously simplify designs
• Communicate pros/cons of system architectures with respect to mechanical design and packaging considerations
• Lead subsystem design reviews and provide clear status updates on timelines and technical progress
• Act as Responsible Engineer: conduct analyses, visit vendors and test sites, define and execute test plans, and manage subsystem interfaces
• Build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful designs to flight hardware and low‑rate production
• Create excellent technical documentation (presentations, test plans/reports, procedures, drawings, specifications, etc.)
• Mentor junior engineers

Required Qualifications

• BS or higher degree in engineering or hard science
• Ability to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• 5-10 years of mechanical design experience with space hardware and demonstrated track record of success
• Experience with exotic opto‑mechanical materials (composites, titanium, beryllium, Invar, Zerodur, etc.)
• Experience with high‑reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistance
• Experience with tolerance stack‑ups, mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaigns
• Experience successfully fielding mechanisms in space environments
• CAD proficiency and ability to create engineering drawings meeting industry standards
• Hands‑on fabrication and assembly skills with hand tools, mill, lathe, etc.
• Strong fundamentals in optics, heat transfer, statics, solid mechanics, and materials
• Excellent attention to detail, highly motivated, self‑starting, and autonomous
• Organized with ability to define scope and requirements for ambiguous problems
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in NX/Teamcenter
• Hands‑on technical project experience (academic, extracurricular, or personal)
• Parallel industry experience
• Ability to integrate electronic components (PCBAs, motors, sensors) into mechanical designs
• Coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for analytical models and data acquisition/automation
• Structural or thermal testing experience including sensor selection, data acquisition, and post‑processing (Python preferred)

Salary Range

$132,000 – $198,000 USD

Benefits

• Healthcare Benefits:
  • US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
  • UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
  • IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.
• Additional Benefits:
  • Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
  • Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available.
  • Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments, adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
  • Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work‑life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
  • Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development.
  • Commuter Benefits: Company‑funded commuter benefits based on your region.
  • Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.
• Retirement Savings Plan:
  • US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after‑tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.
  • UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.
  • AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.