Senior Mechanical Engineer - Space Hardware

$120,000 - $200,000/Yr

Unclassified - Costa Mesa, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Costa Mesa, CA

About the position

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Anduril Industries, you will play a pivotal role in the design and development of space hardware systems. Your responsibilities will encompass the entire hardware design process, from initial concept generation through to launch. You will utilize CAD software, perform hand calculations, and create prototypes, ensuring that design maturity is paced intelligently with a holistic view of the program. Your approach will be grounded in first principles, continuously seeking opportunities to simplify designs and enhance efficiency. In this role, you will communicate the pros and cons of system architecture, focusing on mechanical design and packaging considerations. You will lead subsystem design reviews, providing clear updates on timelines and technical status to your team members. As the Responsible Engineer for your systems, you will conduct analyses, visit vendors, and define and execute hardware test plans. Your hands-on experience will be crucial as you build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful designs to flight hardware and low-rate production. You will also be expected to travel to test sites and vendors as necessary, creating comprehensive technical documentation including slide packages, test plans, reports, procedures, assembly instructions, and vendor specifications. Additionally, mentoring junior engineers will be a key aspect of your role, fostering their growth and development within the team.

Responsibilities

• Own hardware design (CAD, hand calculations, prototypes, etc) from concept generation to launch.
• Intelligently pace design maturity with a holistic view of the program.
• Use first principles as a basis for every decision and continuously look for opportunities to simplify designs.
• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to mechanical design and packaging considerations.
• Lead subsystem design reviews and present status to other team members, providing clear understanding of timelines and technical status.
• Act as the Responsible Engineer for your systems: 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 including slide packages, test plans and reports, procedures, assembly instructions, part and assembly drawings, vendor specifications and statements of work.
• Mentor junior engineers.

Requirements

• BS or higher degree in engineering or a hard science.
• 3-10 years of mechanical design experience in a professional setting with space hardware.
• CAD skills (any platform) and ability to make high quality engineering drawings that meet common industry standards.
• Demonstrated hands-on fabrication and assembly skills, with 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.
• Ability to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in NX/Teamcenter and Solidworks.
• Experience in an immersive hands-on technical project in college or in free time.
• Mechanism design experience.
• Parallel industry experience.
• 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).

Benefits

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: 100% covered for you and 90% for dependents.
• Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for UK roles, fully covered for employee and dependents.
• Private health plan through Bupa for AUS roles, fully subsidized.
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered, with options for additional life insurance.
• Generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December and competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support including fertility, adoption, and gestational carrier coverage.
• Free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and life coaching.
• Professional development stipend available to all employees.
• Daily meals and provisions in many offices.
• Company-funded commuter benefits based on region.
• Relocation assistance depending on role eligibility.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional and Roth options (US roles only).