Staff Mechanical Engineer, Space

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Generous PTO and caregiver leave

Professional development reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Costa Mesa is looking for a Staff Mechanical Engineer specializing in Space to join their team. You will be responsible for hardware design and ensuring robust systems for space military applications. Ideal candidates should hold a degree in engineering, possess CAD skills, and have a strong commitment to detail and autonomy in their work. This position offers a salary range between $166,000 to $220,000 with extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in an immersive hands-on technical project (collegiate or professional).
• Must be a U.S. Person due to export controlled information access.

Responsibilities

• Own hardware design from concept generation to launch.
• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture.
• Lead subsystem design reviews and present status.
• Act as the Responsible Engineer for your subsystem.

Skills

CAD skills

Hands-on fabrication and assembly skills

Attention to detail

Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals

Autonomous work capability

Education

BS or higher degree in engineering or a hard science

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

Job description

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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

• Own hardware design (CAD, hand calculations, prototypes, etc) from concept generation to launch. Intelligently pace design maturity with an holistic view of the program.
• Use first principles as a basis for every decision. Continuously look for opportunities to simplify designs.
• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to design and packaging considerations. Strong focus on good architecture to ensure designs are robust in nature.
• Lead subsystem design reviews, present structures status to other team members, provide clear understanding of timelines and technical status.
• Act as the Responsible Engineer for your subsystem: Run analysis, visit vendors, define and execute hardware test plans.
• Build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful prototype designs to flight hardware and low rate production.
• Travel to test sites and vendors as needed.
• Create excellent technical documentation – slide packages, test plans and reports, procedures, assembly instructions, part and assembly drawings, vendor specifications and statements of work, etc.

Required Qualifications

• BS or higher degree in engineering or a hard science.
• Experience in an immersive hands‑on technical project (collegiate project teams and/or professional settings).
• CAD skills (any platform) and ability to make high quality engineering drawings that meet common industry standards.
• Demonstrated hands‑on fabrication and assembly skills. Experience working with hand tools, mill, lathe, etc.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals: heat transfer, statics, solid mechanics, materials.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• 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.
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of mechanical design experience in a professional setting with space hardware or industry of equivalent complexity.
• Experience in NX/Teamcenter.
• Experience in an immersive hands‑on technical project in college or in free time.
• Ability to integrate electronic components (PCBAs, motors, sensors etc.) into mechanical designs.
• Experience working with (integrating in designs) optical or RF systems.
• Experience developing code in higher‑level languages (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++) for developing analytical models and data acquisition and automation.
• Structural or thermal testing experience – sensor selection, data acquisition, data post‑processing (Python preferred).

US Salary Range

$166,000—$220,000 USD

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 to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), 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.

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Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Defense and Space Manufacturing

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.