Senior Mechanical Engineer, Drones
Andurilindustries · Costa Mesa, California, United States · Posted Jul 3, 2026
Apply on company site Track it in JobSkout
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 Tactical Recon Strike team at Anduril develops aerial small drones (Group 1-3) and all equipment to test, deploy and operate. The team is responsible for taking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt and Altius from concepts to operational systems. We work in close coordination with specialist teams to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are excited about creating a powerful robotics platform that can be tasked and viewed in real-time through a variety of interfaces.
ABOUT THE JOB
Anduril is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join the team at our Costa Mesa HQ. Here you will work on core product development for drones and complex systems, including but not limited to optical gimbals, batteries, mechanisms, structures, sensors and payloads. The role requires high ownership and frequent collaboration with other core disciplines. The ideal candidate would be practical, hands-on and a self starter. High growth potential is possible as well as additional leadership opportunities.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Own complex mechanical subsystems for Anduril's drone products from concept to full rate production
Gather requirements and work through trade studies to determine the best solution
Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
Lead design reviews and obtain buy-in from other cross-disciplinary partners
Build prototypes, define and execute hardware test plans, iterate on designs, summarize results and lessons learned
Perform root cause investigations for hardware failures in development and production
Balance operational needs across vehicle subsystems while optimizing for development speed, mass, manufacturability, and cost
Support critical hardware demonstrations with customers as needed
Travel to test sites and vendors as needed
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
8+ years of mechanical/design experience in a relevant capacity
Demonstrated ownership of a product from concept through production
Advanced CAD skills (any platform) and ability to make high quality engineering drawings that meet industry standards
Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in structures, fluids, thermal, and mechanisms
Advanced proficiency in hands-on prototyping (machining, shop tools, welding, soldering)
Ability to summarize technical content in a cohesive way to help inform and shape future requirements
BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent work experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in Solidworks or NX, and PLM systems
Solid understanding and application of GD T
Advanced designing skills for CNC machining, composites, sheet metal, injection molding, PCBA integration
Outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills
Familiarity with running a qualification campaign for flight hardware
Familiarity with designing for rugged environments
Experience with electro-mechanical and electrical design concepts
Experience with Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, etc.
US Salary Range
$146,000 $194,000 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 .
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 …