Senior Mechanical Engineer, Air Vehicle Lead Design

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE JOB We are looking for an Air Vehicle Lead to join our rapidly growing Air Dominance and Strike team in Costa Mesa, CA. In this role, you will be responsible for the mechanical development of new autonomous missile systems . This will require strong understanding and experience developing advanced air vehicles from concept to delivery . If you are someone who thrives in a fast moving environment and you have experience driving design solutions then this role is for you. WHAT YOU'LL DO Lead the mechanical development of new autonomous air vehicles, from initial system layout and conceptual design through detail design, fabrication, and flight test Derive and shape requirements both internally and externally Drive system architecture and design solutions in order to meet performance, rate, and cost requirements Hands-on development of aircraft, airframe, and subsystem detailed design, analysis, fabrication, and assembly Lead design reviews, present to customers, visit vendors, help define and execute test plans Build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful projects into production Travel to test sites and support customer discussions as needed Provide individual contributions in addition to technical leadership and oversight for a team of 10 to 25 multidisciplinary engineers REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS BS in aerospace, mechanical engineering, or related field 8 years of aerospace experience in a professional setting Working knowledge of MIL standards and industry best practices Strong understanding and experience developing air vehicle conceptual designs and transitioning them to flying and deployable systems Familiarity with key aircraft subsystems and their development methods, including aero-performance, stability and control, structures, mechanisms, avionics, propulsion, fuel systems, thermodynamics, electrical integration, etc. Experience creating, organizing, and managing complex vehicle development designs in CAD Experience developing and using aircraft sizing tools Experience with prototype and production airframe manufacturing methods including composites and metallics Demonstrate leadership skills to manage scope and schedules, deconflict issues, communicate up and down the chain, maximize teamwork and collaboration in a dynamic environment. Must possess and be able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS MS in aerospace, mechanical engineering or related field Working knowledge of NX/Teamcenter Experience with air launched expendable systems Experience with air breathing high sub-sonic or super sonic expendable systems Experience with liquid or solid rocket motors on expendable systems Hands on manufacturing or fabrication experience Familiarity with low observable design principles Experience with surfacing and OML loft modeling Competency in engineering analysis, including aerodynamics, structural, thermal, and electrical US Salary Range $166,000 - $220,000 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: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS Roles: Superannuation plan. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 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 to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com . Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, San Gabriel , Senior Mechanical Engineer, Air Vehicle Lead Design, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California