- Robot type
- Drone · Defense
- Location
- Costa MesaCaliforniaUSA
- Job type
- Hardware
- Posted
- Jul 20, 2026
- Salary
- $146,000–$194,000 a year
Full-time
Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Protection Systems, High-Speed Missiles
Job description
The Missiles Manufacturing Engineering team at Anduril is dedicated to rewriting the playbook for precision strike and deterrent capabilities. Modern threats demand a paradigm shift in how tactical weapons are designed and produced, and our team is rapidly scaling production to deliver the unprecedented volume, speed, and affordability that U.S. and Allied forces require. On this team, you will have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking programs like our Barracuda family of air-breathing missiles—including all of its highly adaptable sub-variants—as well as cutting-edge hypersonic missile systems and a pipeline of next-generation strike technologies.
Job responsibilities
- Own the Production Line: Design, commission, and continuously optimize the assembly lines, work cells, and floor layouts for our hypersonic missile programs.
- Bridge Design and Manufacturing: Collaborate intimately with design engineers during the early development phases to drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA), ensuring the vehicle is optimized…
- Pioneer Advanced Processes: Develop and scale manufacturing processes for exotic materials, advanced composite structures, thermal protection systems (TPS), and high-performance propulsion integration (such as rocket…
- Design Tooling & Equipment: Architect, procure, and qualify custom assembly tooling, fixtures, and automated assembly equipment to increase throughput and quality.
- Drive From Prototype to Rate: Lead the transition of hardware from first-article prototyping through Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and into mature, high-rate manufacturing.
- Solve Complex Shop-Floor Challenges: Act as the first line of defense for the manufacturing floor, rapidly troubleshooting and resolving complex engineering and production anomalies.
- Author Technical Standards: Create and maintain work instructions, manufacturing bills of materials (MBOMs), routing, and quality documentation.
Job requirements
- Educational Background: B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, a related STEM discipline or equivalent work experience.
- TPS Materials Expertise: Hands-on experience working with High-Temperature Materials (e.g., Carbon-Carbon, Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), ablatives, or high-temperature insulation/tiles).
- Material Qualification: Direct experience leading or supporting the qualification of aerospace-grade materials, including defining test plans (thermal, mechanical, and environmental testing) and executing to…
- Manufacturing Process Development: Experience developing, scaling, and documenting manufacturing processes for TPS components (e.g., layup, curing, pyrolysis, densification, machining, or bonding/integration).
- Travel: Willingness to travel periodically (<20%) to support global manufacturing operations.
- U.S. Person Status: Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
- Clearance Status: Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Security clearance.
- YoE: 8+ years of experience working in manufacturing or related field