Senior Composite CNC Programmer/Machinist

Senior Composite CNC Programmer/Machinist

Costa Mesa, California, United States; Santa Ana, California, United States

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 Composites/CNC team within Mechanical Services builds high-priority prototype hardware to advance Anduril's mission of protecting service members and securing national security. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with design engineers in a high-tempo environment, building parts directly from rapidly evolving CAD models. Our hardware transitions from concept to real-world vehicles in weeks, not years. This is a low-volume, prototype and development environment. No production.

About The Job

We are seeking a high-ownership Composite CNC Programmer/Operator to join our rapidly growing team. In this role, you will own the end-to-end manufacturing processfrom CAM programming and 5-axis setup to operation and final part inspection. This is a highly collaborative, hands-on, R&D-focused position. You program it, set it up, run it, and inspect it. There is no production work here; you will solve complex, unique tooling and prototyping challenges daily, playing a critical role in bringing next-generation defense technologies to life.

What You'll Do

• Program, set up, and operate large-format 5-axis CNC gantry routers and mills for trimming, drilling, and surfacing advanced composite components.
• Work closely with design and manufacturing engineers, providing real-time feedback on early-stage prototype models to optimize Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
• Design and fabricate robust work holding, including custom vacuum fixtures for delicate, near-net-shape parts.
• Machine master models and direct-to-part molds from foam, tooling board, and other pattern materials.
• Troubleshoot unique machining challenges inherent to composites, including delamination, fiber pull-out, and thermal degradation.
• Perform in-process quality control and dimensional verification to deliver high-quality prototype components with superior surface finishes.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of CAM programming experience (e.g., Esprit, hyperMILL) and 5+ years of hands-on CNC setup and operation.
• Deep understanding of machining complex composite and tooling materials, including carbon fiber (pre-preg and wet-layup), fiberglass, Kevlar, honeycomb, foam cores, and high-density urethane/epoxy tooling boards (e.g., RenShape).
• Strong command of G and M code, high-speed 5-axis machining, GD&T, and experience with large-gantry 5-axis machines (CMS) and Fanuc controls.
• Expertise in cutting-tool selection for abrasive materials (e.g., PCD, diamond-coated routers, compression drills) and custom work holding.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing R&D environment with a strong bias for action and minimal supervision.
• Passion for national security, defense technology, and solving critical hardware challenges.
• Must be a U.S. Person as this position requires access to export-controlled data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced 5-axis simultaneous programming for complex surface contouring and trimming.
• Experience with Siemens NX CAD and Teamcenter.
• Familiarity with probing cycles and on-machine verification (e.g., Renishaw).
• Experience with metallic machining and hybrid fabrication workflows.

US Hourly Range

$47.60 - $62.50 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 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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

• 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy

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By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.