Prototype Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Anduril · Costa Mesa, United States · 4h ago
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
As a Prototype ME, you are the first manufacturing engineer on a new build. You will work from incomplete design definitions – often without released drawings or established work instructions – to figure out how hardware goes together, build the first units, and document what you learn. Your output is not just a built prototype; it is the MVP work instructions, preliminary BOM structure, buildability feedback, and lessons learned that the DFx and SME teams use to drive producibility improvements and prepare for rate production. You are the bridge between a design engineer's intent and the physical reality of how something gets built for the first time.
This is a cross-program role. You will move between AD&S programs based on where first builds are happening, bringing a consistent methodology to new hardware regardless of the product line. You will work closely with design engineers, DFx engineers, SME manufacturing engineers, and production technicians. The pace is fast, the inputs are messy, and the expectation is that you bring order to chaos – one build at a time.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Execute first builds of new mechanical, structural, thermal, and fluid system hardware across AD&S programs, working from preliminary or incomplete design inputs (unreleased models, draft drawings, verbal direction from design engineers).
- Develop MVP work instructions during and immediately after first builds – capturing assembly sequences, tooling needs, critical dimensions, torque values, and process notes sufficient for a technician to repeat the build.
- Establish preliminary BOM structures (Make/Buy determinations) based on first-build experience, identifying which components should be fabricated internally, procured, or sent to contract manufacturers.
- Provide structured design feedback to design engineers based on first-build observations – specifically addressing buildability, checkability (can you inspect it?), and repeatability (can someone else build it the same way?).
- Document lessons learned from every first build and feed them directly to DFx engineers for incorporation into formal DFM/DFA reviews and design trade studies.
- Build and support Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) units – Ironbirds, Copperbirds, and similar integration test articles – where the build method is undefined and must be figured out from scratch.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing issues in real time on the shop floor during first builds, including fit/interference problems, fastener access issues, routing conflicts, and assembly sequence challenges.
- Develop or source prototype tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids needed for first builds – balancing speed with enough rigor that the tooling concept can inform production tooling decisions later.
- Work with SME manufacturing engineers to validate process assumptions – confirming that the manufacturing processes assumed in design (welding methods, composite layup approaches, tube forming techniques, adhesive bonding sequences) are feasible as designed.
- Support the transition of hardware from prototype to early production by ensuring first-build documentation, lessons learned, and BOM structures are complete and transferred to the product-owning ME team.
- Collaborate with quality engineering to identify inspection points and acceptance criteria that emerge from first-build experience – particularly for characteristics not yet captured in drawings or specifications.
- Travel to production sites, supplier facilities, and integration locations to support first builds and prototype campaigns (~15-20%, depending on program needs).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, prototype/development manufacturing, or NPI with hands-on involvement in building new hardware – not just sustaining existing production lines.
- Demonstrated experience executing first builds or first-article production of mechanical or electromechanical hardware with incomplete or evolving design inputs.
- Practical knowledge of mechanical manufacturing and assembly processes: CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, mechanical fastening, composite fabrication, tube bending/swaging, adhesive bonding, and mechanical integration.
- Ability to read mechanical drawings, interpret GD&T, and work from 3D models – and the judgment to know when something in the model won't work on the shop floor.
- Experience writing work instructions, assembly procedures, or process documentation – you've captured a build process well enough that someone else could repeat it.
- Strong communication skills and a willingness to give direct, specific design feedback to design engineers. You are not just flagging problems – you are proposing solutions.
- Comfort working across multiple programs simultaneously, shifting between products as first-build needs arise.
- A genuine interest in building things and a drive to figure out how hardware goes together. Personal experience in a machine shop, fabrication shop, or working on hardware (machining, welding, assembly, personal projects) is a strong plus.
- Self-directed and resourceful – you don't wait for complete inputs or perfect information. You find what you need, make reasonable assumptions, and close the loop.
- Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in aerospace or defense prototype/development manufacturing, particularly with structural, thermal, or fluid system hardware.
- Exposure to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) builds, integration test articles, or similar one-off/low-volume integration hardware.
- Familiarity with AS9100 or similar quality management systems – enough to understand how prototype builds connect to production quality requirements.
- Proficiency in CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar) sufficient to navigate models and identify manufacturing concerns independently.
- Experience with composite manufacturing processes (layup, cure, bonding, machining) in a prototype or development context.
- Experience with fluid system assembly – tube routing, fitting installation, leak testing, cleanliness requirements.
- Familiarity with BOM management, ERP systems, or PLM tools used to structure manufacturing data.
- Experience developing or sourcing prototype tooling and fixtures.
- Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.
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.comaddress. - 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.
- Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an
-
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/.
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.