Staff Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Turbine Engine Integration)

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Top-tier benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries, a defense technology company in Costa Mesa, CA, seeks an experienced propulsion engineer to lead integration of aircraft engines and propulsion systems for unmanned air vehicles. You will design, test, and validate propulsion components, and coordinate with vendors across the full development lifecycle.

Ideal candidates have 12+ years in propulsion for air vehicles, jet engine experience in the 250–20,000 lbf class, and CAD proficiency, with eligibility for active U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering.
• 12+ years propulsion engineering on air vehicles (manned or unmanned).
• Experience with jet engines in the 250-20,000 lbf thrust class.
• Experience defining propulsion test programs and troubleshooting anomalies.

Responsibilities

• Lead or contribute to the selection, architecture, and integration of aircraft engines, engine components, and engine controls on unmanned and manned air vehicles.
• Design, fabricate, and test prototype components and control systems.
• Plan, instrument, and execute tests of propulsion systems.
• Coordinate with engine vendors and manage development projects.
• Lead or support critical hardware demonstrations with customers.
• CAD design support for inlet/exhaust shaping, surfaces and structures.
• Travel to test sites as needed.

Skills

Propulsion engineering

Air vehicles

CAD

Test planning

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering

Tools

NX / Teamcenter

Python

MATLAB

IADs

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 Air Dominance & Strike Propulsion Integration team is responsible for designing and integrating advanced hardware for Group 5 air vehicles and across missile platforms. Air Dominance & Strike Propulsion Engineers own the full development lifecycle, from concept generation, to integration and flight test, ensuring high-performance, resilient, and scalable mechanical systems that meet the demands of complex, contested environments.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Serve as a lead or key contributor in the selection, architecting, and integration of aircraft engines, engine components, and engine controls on unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
• Design, fabricate, and test prototype components and control systems.
• Plan, instrument, and execute tests of aircraft propulsion systems.
• Coordinate with engine vendors, develop strategic partnerships, and manage development projects.
• Lead or support critical hardware demonstrations with customers as needed.
• Critical member of team supporting CAD design for inlet / exhaust shaping, surfaces and structures.
• Travel to test sites as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering.
• 12+ years of propulsion engineering experience on air vehicles (manned or unmanned).
• Professional experience with jet engines in the 250-20,000 lbf thrust class.
• Experience leading the integration of propulsion systems into air vehicles; acting as the technical authority for major subsystems.
• Experience utilizing, customizing, or tailoring thermodynamic engine cycle decks to perform installed engine performance predictions.
• Experience defining comprehensive propulsion test programs and troubleshooting anomalies.
• Experience designing mechanical parts and surface loft (CAD) with the ability to perform design reviews and provide detailed technical feedback to other engineers.
• Understanding of manufacturing methods (machining, sheet metal, composites, 3D printing, injection molding, etc.).
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in NX / Teamcenter, Python, MATLAB, IADs.
• Hands-on experience with jet engine testing including test practices, instrumentation, and data processing.
• Previous work experience at a jet engine OEM or supplier, with a deep understanding of engine performance trade-offs.
• Knowledge and experience working with FADEC, Engine Management Systems (EMS), or equivalent aircraft engine control systems.
• Experience procuring parts and working in a machine shop. Working knowledge of machine safety and shop safety protocols.
• Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

US Salary Range

$220,000—$292,000 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.

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Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We’ve observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.

To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:

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By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.