Senior Mechanical Engineer - Lethality at Anduril in Costa Mesa, CA

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

• BS or higher degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• 5-10+ years' experience leading cross-functional teams to develop, analyze, and test new design concepts.
• Proficiency creating complex mechanical designs and drawings using CAD/PLM tools such as NX and Teamcenter.
• Experience executing tests to verify and validate designs meet system objectives and requirements.
• Experience preparing engineering documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports, technical data packages).
• Ability to travel as required for testing (surges up to 25%).
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
• Subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening.
• Must be a U.S. Person, due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Active U.S. security clearance (DoD Secret or Top Secret, or DOE L or Q).
• Experience in design and testing of ordnance/munitions systems.
• Experience scaling mechanical components to production volumes.
• Experience with DoD Weapons Safety Boards.