Senior Mechanical Engineer: Optical Payload, Space

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 TEAMAnduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war-fighting domain.WHAT YOU’LL DO? Create opto-mechanical designs of space payloads ranging from small cameras to large telescopesAct as Responsible Engineer: conduct analyses, visit vendors and test sites, define and execute test plans, and manage subsystem interfacesRun finite element models and hand calculations to predict stresses in mechanical and optical componentsContribute to STOP analyses to evaluate structural and thermal effects on optical performanceConduct hand calculations and run higher order thermal analyses to evaluate survival and operational on-orbit temperatures including solar loading effects through apertures and opticsDesign alignment features and conduct tolerance stack-ups enabling sub-arcsecond payload pointing and stability over large temperature rangesOwn hardware design from concept to launch, intelligently pacing design maturity with a holistic program viewUse first principles for every decision and continuously simplify designsCommunicate pros/cons of system architectures with respect to mechanical design and packaging considerationsLead subsystem design reviews and provide clear status updates on timelines and technical progressBuild prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful designs to flight hardware and low-rate productionCreate excellent technical documentation (presentations, test plans/reports, procedures, drawings, specifications, etc.)Mentor junior engineersREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSBS or higher degree in engineering or hard scienceAbility to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance5+ years of mechanical design experience and demonstrated track record of successExperience with exotic opto-mechanical materials (composites, titanium, beryllium, Invar, Zerodur, etc.)Experience with tolerance stack-ups, mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaignsCAD proficiency and ability to create engineering drawings meeting industry standards (GD&T)Hands-on fabrication and assembly skills with hand tools, mill, lathe, etc.Strong fundamentals in optics, heat transfer, statics, solid mechanics, and materialsExcellent attention to detail, highly motivated, self-starting, and autonomousOrganized with ability to define scope and requirements for ambiguous problemsExperience with high-reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistancePREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSExperience in NX/TeamcenterHands-on technical project experience (academic, extracurricular, or personal)Parallel industry experienceAbility to integrate electronic components (PCBAs, motors, sensors) into mechanical designsCoding experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for analytical models and data acquisition/automationStructural or thermal testing experience including sensor selection, data acquisition, and post-processing (Python preferred)US Salary Range$166,000—$220,000 USDThe 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: BenefitsAt 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 ScamsAnduril 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. 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