--- title: 'Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality at Anduril Industries' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-lethality-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-axdtq7hsmrxy' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-07' --- # Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality at Anduril Industries - **Company:** Anduril Industries - **Location:** Costa Mesa, CA - **Compensation:** $166k–$270k - **Posted:** 2026-09-26 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/andurilindustries/jobs/5249948007?gh_jid=5249948007 ## 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 Lethality team is a diverse, multidisciplinary group with one common goal: to enable Anduril products to achieve decisive effects on target. The team brings over 100 years of combined experience designing, analyzing, manufacturing, testing, and fielding ordnance assemblies designed for complex operational environments. Our engineers and technicians work closely with multiple business lines to provide core warhead and explosives expertise for Anduril. This vertically integrated approach allows us to design and develop payload solutions directly alongside the delivery vehicle, enabling Anduril to provide the warfighter operational capabilities faster than ever before. The Lethality team operates with a strong bias toward execution and a hands-on commitment to delivering on schedule. Team members are expected to take ownership, work directly with vehicle teams, collaborate across engineering and operations, and rapidly turn technical concepts into reliable, safe, and performant systems that can be produced and deployed at scale ## ABOUT THE JOB Our warfighters need lethal systems capable of deterring our adversaries and defending our allies. 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 - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and work experience. - 8+ years of professional mechanical design experience taking physical hardware from initial concept through fabrication and functional test. - Proficiency in parametric 3D CAD (NX, SolidWorks, or Creo) and modern PLM/PDM environments (e.g., Teamcenter). - Working knowledge of engineering drawings and practical application of ASME Y14.5 GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis. - Hands-on prototyping and fabrication experience, including root-cause analysis of manufacturing and hardware defects. - Coursework or professional experience applying statics, dynamics, material selection, heat transfer, and structural mechanics to hardware design problems. - Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. - Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated hardware development environments. - Proficiency with FEA tools (Abaqus, ANSYS, or equivalent) for structural, thermal, or dynamic analysis. - Experience with naval ordnance, warheads, energetic materials, DoD weapons safety boards, high-rate dynamic modeling, or live-fire arena testing. - Active U.S. Security Clearance (DoD Secret, Top Secret, or DOE Q). ## 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. US Salary Range $166,000—$270,000 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](https://www.anduril.com/careers). Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams 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: - No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. - Please always verify communications: - Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. - Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com. - Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. - What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/. 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. ## About Anduril Industries ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: A military technology company developing AI-powered autonomous systems and software for defense and national security. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series H) - **Headquarters**: Costa Mesa, California, USA - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm, Joe Chen, Brian Schimpf ## Core Business - Primary industry: Defense, aerospace, artificial intelligence, robotics - Target customers: Primarily B2G – U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments (e.g., UK, UAE), and border security agencies (e.g., CBP) - Mission/purpose: To accelerate the adoption of advanced technology in defense, with a focus on autonomous systems, AI-driven decision-making, and rapid production at scale. ## Products & Services - **[Lattice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Lattice)**: AI-powered software platform that fuses sensor data from multiple sources (Anduril and third-party) to detect, identify, and track objects in real time. Core to all Anduril systems. - **[Sentry Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Sentry_Tower)**: Autonomous, solar-powered surveillance tower (33ft) with cameras, radar, thermal imaging, and comms – used for border security and military base protection. - **[Ghost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries#Ghost)**: Small, portable unmanned aerial system (UAS) for reconnaissance and surveillance; used by U.S. Marines and other forces. - **Altius Family**: Tube-launched, fixed-wing UAVs (e.g., Altius 600, Altius 700M) that can be deployed from aircraft, ground vehicles, or larger UAVs. - **Fury (YFQ-44A)**: Semi-autonomous collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) developed for the U.S. Air Force’s CCA program; first flight in October 2025. - **IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System)**: Anduril took over development from Microsoft in 2025; a heads-up display/goggle system for ground soldiers. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: $61 billion (Series H, May 2026) – [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) - **Annual Revenue**: $2 billion (2025) – [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) - **Total Funding**: ~$12.7 billion (across all rounds, including $5B raise in May 2026) – [robotics.press](https://robotics.press/news/anduril-deep-dive/) - **Notable Investors**: Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, 8VC, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Valor Equity Partners, D1 Capital Partners, Sands Capital - **Notable Customers/Partners**: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), UK Home Office, Royal Navy, Edge Group (UAE), OpenAI - **Growth Signals**: - Raised $5B in May 2026 at a $61B valuation, up from $14B in August 2024 - Constructing Arsenal-1, a $1B hyperscale manufacturing facility in Ohio, with partnerships from Ohio State University - Acquired multiple companies between 2021-2026 (Area-I, Adranos, Blue Force Technologies, Numerica, Klas, ExoAnalytic Solutions, etc.) - Won contracts for CCA development (Air Force), robotic combat vehicle software (Army), and CBP border surveillance - Took over IVAS program from Microsoft (2025) - Employees grew from ~90 in 2017 to 7,000 in 2026 ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically integrated**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own hardware (drones, towers, missiles) and software (Lattice), enabling rapid iteration. - **AI-first approach**: Lattice provides a common operating picture across domains, reducing decision latency in combat scenarios. - **Speed of production**: Arsenal projects aim to produce advanced autonomous systems faster than traditional defense primes. - **Government trust**: Deep relationships with DoD and allied agencies, demonstrated by multi-million-dollar contracts and classified work. - **In-person, security-focused culture**: Proximity to military bases, industrial equipment, and classified contract requirements create a unique operational moat. ## Strategic Focus - **Hyperscale manufacturing**: Build Arsenal-1 (Ohio) and subsequent “Arsenal” facilities to manufacture autonomous weapons at near-peer-competitive speed. - **Space domain**: Acquired ExoAnalytic Solutions (March 2026) to expand into space-based intelligence and surveillance. - **Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)**: Fury is a key program; competing for Air Force’s CCA Increment 1. - **International expansion**: Partnership with UAE’s Edge Group; sales to UK (Royal Navy, Home Office); plans to serve other Five Eyes and allied nations. - **AI integration**: Partnership with OpenAI to enhance defense systems; Lattice already used by Space Force for surveillance networks. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven work**: Direct impact on national security and defense technology – opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI, robotics, and autonomous systems. - **Culture**: Emphasizes in-person collaboration due to security requirements, industrial equipment, and classified programs. Offices include Costa Mesa (HQ), Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Washington D.C., London, and Sydney. - **Growth trajectory**: Company has grown from 90 employees to 7,000 in ~9 years; significant investment in new facilities and acquisitions indicates continued expansion. - **Engineering focus**: Heavy investment in software, AI, hardware, and manufacturing engineering – roles span from software engineers to aerospace engineers to production specialists. - **Notable perks/benefits**: Not detailed in public sources, but the company offers competitive compensation in a high-stakes, high-impact environment. The Ohio Arsenal-1 facility will employ many from Ohio State University’s applied science programs. ## Sources 1. [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduril_Industries) – Wikipedia: Anduril Industries (key facts, revenue, employee count, product details, funding, acquisitions) 2. [tracxn.com](https://tracxn.com/d/companies/anduril/__qqOI0HKR47lFXorj9FAQlDfmJOqfOpDNWiW3JcO--ss) – Tracxn: Anduril company profile, funding stage, founders 3. [robotics.press](https://robotics.press/news/anduril-deep-dive/) – Robotics Press: Deep dive on valuation, revenue, total funding, employee estimate 4. [anduril.com/careers](https://www.anduril.com/careers) – Official careers page (search result summary) 5. [anduril.com/open-roles](https://www.anduril.com/open-roles) – Open roles listing ## Other roles at Anduril Industries - [Curriculum Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/curriculum-developer-anduril-industries-santa-ana-6htrphsn60v0) — Santa Ana, CA - [Program Manager, Maintenance](https://feeny.ai/job/program-manager-maintenance-anduril-industries-ashville-1yx960a04m6j) — Ashville, OH - [Growth Operations Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/growth-operations-associate-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-7gc7sar8jzw5) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Supplier Quality Engineer - Sentry](https://feeny.ai/job/supplier-quality-engineer-sentry-anduril-industries-irvine-tvr0x3ya168c) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Supplier Quality Engineer - Sentry](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-supplier-quality-engineer-sentry-anduril-industries-irvine-5befszzye81w) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Flight Test Engineer, Omen](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-flight-test-engineer-omen-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-fm2827kf0cba) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Flight Test Engineer, Omen](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-test-engineer-omen-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-hyw4vy9wrt79) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Flight Test Engineer - Advanced Effects (Roadrunner)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-flight-test-engineer-advanced-effects-roadrunner-anduril-industries-y08jtpec5qct) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Mailroom Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/mailroom-specialist-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-prawmqn0hskd) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Manager, Counter Intrusion](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-counter-intrusion-anduril-industries-irvine-v6nk24cjap5g) — Irvine, CA