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Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Propulsion & Energetics

Anduril· Manufacturing : Manufacturing Engineering : Manufacturing Engineering
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Costa Mesa, CA$146k - $194kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Lead Manufacturing Engineer responsible for the manufacturing and integration of propulsion and energetic hardware, including solid rocket motors, divert/attitude control thrusters, pressurant and fluid systems, and ordnance installation, with safety, DFMA, and cross-functional leadership to support high-consequence hardware.

Responsibilities

  • Own solid rocket motor integration processes: receipt and inspection of qualified motors from Anduril RMS, handling and lift operations, mating to the vehicle, alignment, and torque and close-out.
  • Own divert and attitude control system and thruster installation processes — mounting, alignment, plumbing and leak verification — for both development and vendor-supplied units.
  • Own pressurant and fluid system build and installation: tanks, lines, fittings, valves, proof and leak testing, and cleanliness control for propulsion-grade fluid systems.
  • Own ordnance installation processes — initiators, pyrotechnic separation systems and flight termination system installation — including safe-and-arm handling, electrical safing, stray voltage and RF hazard controls, and the two-person and lockout discipline that goes with them.
  • Partner with Anduril's Explosive Engineering & Operations team on hazard classification and own the manufacturing safety controls that follow — siting, storage and licensing compliance, and the hazardous operating procedures the floor works to.
  • Author and maintain work instructions, travelers and as-built records for the propulsion and ordnance operations you own, and own root cause analysis, PFMEA, process validation and first article inspection for those processes.
  • Drive Design for Manufacturability and Assembly into propulsion and ordnance designs before CDR — access, handling provisions, safing points, line and connector routing, and installation order.
  • Specify and qualify handling equipment, lift fixtures and installation tooling for propulsion hardware, working with the Automation and Tooling engineer who designs it.
  • Serve as the manufacturing technical interface to Anduril RMS and to our propulsion partners on motor and thruster producibility, and support energetics integration on site at our launch and motor sites.
  • Act as an owner of Anduril's Manufacturing Development Process (MDP), use Foundry and Teamcenter as the system of record, and mentor the engineers and technicians who will grow this discipline.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • 8+ years of manufacturing or integration engineering experience in aerospace, space, defense or another high-reliability industry, including 4+ years hands-on work on propulsion, ordnance or other energetic hardware.
  • Has worked under a formal explosives or energetics safety program and can describe the controls in practice — quantity-distance and magazine siting under DESR 6055.09 or ATF 27 CFR, two-person discipline, electrical safing, and stray voltage and RF hazard controls.
  • Hands-on experience in at least two of: solid rocket motor handling and integration; liquid or cold-gas thruster installation; pressurant and fluid system build with proof and leak testing; ordnance installation, including separation systems or flight termination systems.
  • Has authored or approved procedures for hazardous operations on flight or comparably high-consequence hardware, and can walk through how a procedure changed after first execution.
  • Experience specifying handling and lift equipment for heavy or hazardous articles, including load path and proof load requirements.
  • Experience serving as the manufacturing technical interface to a propulsion supplier or an internal motor or thruster producer — deliverability, producibility and acceptance.
  • Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone), PFMEA, corrective and preventive action, and first article inspection, applied to hazardous processes.
  • Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
  • Willingness to travel up to 25%

Skills

Required:Solid rocket motor handling and integrationDivert and attitude control system and thruster installationPressurant and fluid system build and installationOrdnance installation (initiators, flight termination)Hazard classification coordinationRoot cause analysis and PFMEA

Benefits

  • Comprehensive, competitive benefits package (health, recovery, and other supports)
  • Top-tier benefits for full-time employees (details available via company site)
  • Highly competitive equity grants common in full-time offers
Last updated Sep 16, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Anduril

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