Thermal Design Engineer

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 TeamThe Thermal Engineering team enables Anduril's rapid hardware development cycle by ensuring advanced defense systems perform reliably in demanding real-world environments. The team works across high-power, tightly integrated products where thermal architecture, analysis, testing, and cross-functional design decisions directly affect product performance, reliability, and mission success.About the RoleWe are looking for a Thermal Design Engineer to join our team in Costa Mesa, CA. In this role, you will support thermal design and analysis for advanced defense hardware across drones, aircraft, missiles, and related flight systems.This role is ideal for someone early in their career with strong heat transfer and fluid dynamics fundamentals from graduate coursework or research, who wants to grow into full ownership of thermal design problems in a fast-paced environment.What You'll DoSupport thermal design and analysis for integrated hardware products, including drones, aircraft, missiles, or related defense systemsApply first-principles engineering judgment using hand calculations, spreadsheets, and MATLAB/Python models to inform design decisionsBuild and maintain thermal FEA/CFD models to predict system performance and establish design limitsSupport prototype builds and thermal tests, including sensor selection, DAQ setup, data post-processing, and results documentationContribute to defining thermal architectures for rugged environments, demanding flight envelopes, and mission-specific thermal conditionsPartner with electrical, mechanical, aerospace, and systems engineers to document power dissipation, operating modes, and thermal constraintsPresent thermal analysis results and recommendations in internal design reviewsDevelop internal tools, workflows, or analysis methods that improve speed and quality of thermal decision-makingRequired QualificationsMS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field with a focus on heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermal sciences, or thermal systemsStrong first-principles understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics, including conduction, convection, radiation, fluid flow, and transient thermal behaviorCoursework, research, or internship experience in thermal analysis, modeling, or testingExperience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for engineering analysisAbility to communicate technical concepts clearly to cross-functional teamsAbility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearancePreferred Qualifications1-3 years of industry experience in thermal engineering for aerospace, defense, or high-performance hardware systemsExperience with thermal analysis tools such as STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, Icepak, Flotherm, or comparable FEA/CFD platformsExperience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks or Siemens NXGraduate research in thermal-fluid systems, electronics cooling, aerothermal analysis, or related areasExposure to thermal testing, including instrumentation, data acquisition, and test-to-model correlationStrong motivation to support Anduril's mission of defending the United States and allied partnersUS Salary Range$112,000—$149,000 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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