--- title: 'Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion at Anduril Industries' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-manufacturing-engineer-propulsion-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-6zdx8sdvy76j' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-17' --- # Staff Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion at Anduril Industries - **Company:** Anduril Industries - **Location:** Costa Mesa, CA - **Compensation:** $166k–$220k - **Posted:** 2026-09-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/andurilindustries/jobs/5250964007?gh_jid=5250964007 ## 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 JOB Anduril's Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) Manufacturing Engineering team is seeking a Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer to provide subject matter expertise on propulsion system manufacturing across our portfolio of autonomous aircraft, cruise missiles, and loitering munitions. This position may be filled at either the Senior or Staff level depending on experience and qualifications. This role covers the full spectrum of propulsion technologies relevant to AD&S — air-breathing jet turbines, ramjets, and solid rocket motors — and is responsible for ensuring that propulsion hardware can be manufactured, assembled, tested, and integrated at production rate with the quality and reliability our programs demand. You will bring deep expertise in the manufacturing processes, materials, and quality requirements specific to propulsion systems. Your knowledge of how these systems are built — from turbine blade casting and combustor fabrication to solid propellant processing and nozzle manufacturing — is what makes you valuable. You are the person who knows what can go wrong in propulsion production and how to prevent it through design influence, process control, and supplier qualification. A critical part of this role is working directly with design engineers and program-level manufacturing engineers to evaluate propulsion designs for producibility, drive DFM improvements, and support the selection and qualification of propulsion suppliers and contract manufacturers. You will also support propulsion system test campaigns from a manufacturing engineering perspective, including integration, acceptance testing, and anomaly resolution. This is an inherently cross-functional role: you will work daily with supply chain, quality, operations, test engineering, and program teams. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO - Serve as a propulsion manufacturing engineering subject matter expert across AD&S programs, covering air-breathing turbines, ramjets, and solid rocket motors. - Evaluate propulsion system designs for manufacturability, assembly, and cost — leading or supporting DFM/DFA reviews and driving design changes that improve producibility without compromising performance. - Work directly with design engineers and program manufacturing engineers to translate propulsion manufacturing constraints into actionable design feedback. - Assist in the selection and qualification of propulsion suppliers and contract manufacturers — assessing manufacturing capability, process maturity, quality systems, and cost competitiveness for propulsion-specific production. - Conduct or participate in supplier manufacturing assessments for propulsion hardware, including facility reviews, process audits, special process qualification (casting, brazing, propellant processing, thermal spray), and production readiness evaluations. - Develop and maintain manufacturing process requirements and standards for propulsion-specific processes including turbine component manufacturing, combustor and hot section fabrication, solid propellant mixing and casting, nozzle manufacturing, and propulsion system assembly and integration. - Support propulsion system test campaigns from a manufacturing engineering perspective — including hardware preparation, instrumentation integration, acceptance test criteria, and post-test hardware disposition and anomaly investigation. - Develop or contribute to should-cost models and cost-driver analyses for propulsion assemblies and components, identifying design and process changes that reduce unit cost at rate production. - Partner with quality engineering to define or support inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and process controls specific to propulsion hardware — including non-destructive testing (NDT), dimensional inspection, and material certification requirements. - Collaborate with supply chain to align propulsion manufacturing requirements with sourcing strategy, including long-lead material planning and sole/single source risk mitigation. - Close the loop between production and test feedback, supplier performance data, and upstream design and process improvements. - Build and maintain propulsion manufacturing knowledge within the ME organization — developing training materials, lessons-learned databases, and technical reference documents. - Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers on propulsion manufacturing principles and supplier assessment methods (Staff level). - Travel to production sites, propulsion suppliers, and test facilities (~20%, depending on business needs). ## REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. - 12+ years of experience in propulsion manufacturing, propulsion engineering, or a closely related manufacturing discipline — with expertise in at least one propulsion type: air-breathing turbines, ramjets, or solid rocket motors. - Strong technical knowledge of propulsion-specific manufacturing processes relevant to your area of expertise. Depending on specialty, this may include: investment casting and single-crystal blade production, combustor and hot section fabrication (welding, brazing, thermal barrier coatings), solid propellant formulation, mixing, casting and curing, nozzle and throat insert manufacturing (ablatives, refractory metals, carbon-carbon composites), ramjet combustor and inlet manufacturing, or propulsion system assembly, integration, and acceptance testing. - Experience evaluating propulsion designs for manufacturability and translating findings into measurable improvements. - Experience evaluating or qualifying propulsion suppliers — including special process qualification and production readiness assessments. - Understanding of cost drivers in propulsion production, with experience building or contributing to should-cost models. - Ability to read and critically evaluate propulsion system drawings, specifications, and test requirements for manufacturing implications. - Working knowledge of relevant propulsion standards and specifications (MIL-STD, SAE AMS, JANNAF, AIAA standards as applicable). - Proven ability to work cross-functionally across design engineering, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, supply chain, quality, and operations. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to engineering leadership and drive alignment on design and process changes. - Comfortable working across multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. - Hands-on experience with propulsion hardware — whether in a production, test, or integration environment. Technical credibility matters. - Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities. ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a propulsion-related field. - Deep expertise spanning two or more propulsion types (turbines, ramjets, solid rocket motors). - Experience in aerospace or defense propulsion production, particularly with qualified or flight-critical hardware. - Familiarity with AS9100/AS9102 quality management systems and their application to propulsion hardware. - Experience with energetic materials handling, storage, and safety requirements for solid rocket motor production. - Knowledge of propulsion system qualification processes (ground test, environmental qualification, lot acceptance testing). - Background in advanced materials and processes relevant to propulsion: superalloys, ceramics, ablatives, composite overwrap, thermal protection systems. - Proficiency in CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar) sufficient to review designs independently. - Experience with value engineering or formal cost reduction programs in a propulsion production environment. - Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance with Full-Scope Polygraph. US Salary Range $166,000—$220,000 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 - [Senior Test Site Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-test-site-manager-anduril-industries-ashville-j96w4xm6x0yn) — Ashville, OH - [Finance, Master Data Management](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-master-data-management-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-t27eash199n7) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Engineer, Systems & Tools](https://feeny.ai/job/engineer-systems-tools-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-5yydp1yy7tnm) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Product Manager, ERP](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-erp-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-xgg5abs9n8cv) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Classified Platform Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/classified-platform-engineer-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-kmqy63ef38wt) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Sustainment Engineer, Fury](https://feeny.ai/job/sustainment-engineer-fury-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-3ptrmhtcp9wj) — Costa Mesa, CA - [Senior Mission Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mission-software-engineer-anduril-industries-waltham-thg3m6cecgxp) — Waltham, MA - [Mission Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-software-engineer-anduril-industries-waltham-gpp762vcn18f) — Waltham, MA - [Vehicle Battery Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/vehicle-battery-systems-engineer-anduril-industries-santa-ana-vw9mmbxam1az) — Santa Ana, CA - [Vehicle Energy Systems Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/vehicle-energy-systems-lead-anduril-industries-costa-mesa-xqpjjd7hyjbz) — Costa Mesa, CA