Senior Structural Engineer, Thunder

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

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa seeks a Senior Structural Engineer to join the Thunder Team. You will perform static and dynamic analyses, develop FEMs, and collaborate with hardware engineers to shape aircraft designs with high ownership in a lean culture.

You will support validation and flight testing, ensure compliance with standards, and stay current with analytical methods and materials innovations. Security clearance capability is required for this role.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in engineering or applied physics with a focus in structures.
• Deep understanding of statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and materials properties.
• Structural testing experience (static, buckling, cyclic) including sensor selection, data acquisition, and data post-processing.
• Proficiency in FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN) solution sequences for linear and non-linear static and buckling analyses.
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks).
• Proficiency in Matlab or Python (or equivalent) for developing analytical models, data acquisition, and automation.
• Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision.
• Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Perform static and dynamic structural analyses of composites and metallics using first principles and appropriate analysis methods (hand calculations, spreadsheets, scripts, detailed FEA).
• Develop and own FEM creation and organization at the global and subsystem level.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to drive proper designs based on analytical results.
• Document analysis methodology and results in technical reports for internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Conduct and support validation testing, including instrumentation requirements, load requirements, data collection, and model correlation.
• Participate in flight testing including setting Do No Exceed values, monitoring loads, and dispositioning inspection findings.
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements, industry standards, and safety regulations.
• Stay current with advancements in analysis techniques, materials technology, and industry standards.

Skills

Statics & dynamics

Mechanics of materials

Structural testing

Automation (MATLAB/Python)

Autonomous work ethos

Education

BS in engineering/physics (structures)

MS in engineering/physics (structures)

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

NASTRAN

NX

SolidWorks

MATLAB

Python

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 Maneuver Dominance team is building Thunder - an autonomous attack rotorcraft built to fight alongside crewed combat aviation to deliver overwhelming mass effects deep beyond the front lines. The team in London builds the Mission System and the autonomy that makes aircraft like Thunder work.

Autonomy is only as good as the link that carries it. Thunder is a compact airframe with weapons, sensors and radios competing for the same antenna real estate, flying low and in formation, in a spectrum that is actively contested. That is the problem you would own.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is seeking a Senior Structural Engineer to join the Thunder Team at our Costa Mesa HQ. You will work on new aircraft development in a lean, high-ownership culture where you directly shape the product and operate at a velocity to fly new designs within months, not years.

• Perform static and dynamic structural analyses of composites and metallics using first principles and appropriate analysis methods (hand calculations, spreadsheets, scripts, detailed FEA)
• Develop and own FEM creation and organization at the global and subsystem level
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to drive proper designs based on analytical results
• Document analysis methodology and results in technical reports for internal teams and external stakeholders
• Conduct and support validation testing, including instrumentation requirements, load requirements, data collection, and model correlation
• Participate in flight testing including setting Do No Exceed values, monitoring loads, and dispositioning inspection findings
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements, industry standards, and safety regulations
• Stay current with advancements in analysis techniques, materials technology, and industry standards

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BS or higher degree in engineering or applied physics with a focus in structures
• Deep understanding of statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and materials properties
• Structural testing experience (static, buckling, cyclic) including sensor selection, data acquisition, and data post-processing
• Proficiency in FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus, NASTRAN) solution sequences for linear and non-linear static and buckling analyses
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, Solidworks)
• Proficiency in Matlab or Python (or equivalent) for developing analytical models, data acquisition, and automation
• Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision
• Very organized and willing to establish scope and requirements for ill- defined problems
• Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 6+ years of experience in a structures, dynamics, or loads related role with high ownership and accountability for hardware outcomes
• MS or higher degree in engineering or applied physics with a focus in structures
• Experience with high cycle fatigue and/or turbomachinery
• Ability to develop workflow automation tools

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:

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 .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

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.