Senior Mechanical Engineer

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Anduril Rocket Motor Systems (RMS) team is on a mission to build next generation solid rocket motors for a safer, more connected world. To achieve our vision of becoming a large-volume provider of tactical rocket motors, we will develop differentiated products and services that maximize our customers’ capabilities, and we will establish and maintain a reputation of Quality and Reliability.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril's Production Engineering Team is seeking a highly skilled and driven Senior Mechanical Engineer to take holistic ownership of the design, development, and implementation of critical production tooling specifically for advanced solid rocket motors.

Our Production Engineering Team is at the forefront of rapidly iterating and building cutting-edge defense hardware. We are the linchpin between innovative design and scalable manufacturing, ensuring our defense systems, particularly our solid fuel rocket motors, reach the warfighter at speed and scale. This role is crucial to accelerating that mission.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of specialized manufacturing tooling for solid rocket motors, from initial concept and detailed design through prototyping, validation, full release, and successful implementation on the factory floor.
• Serve as the design authority for a diverse range of tooling, including jigs, fixtures, molds (for propellant casting, insulation, etc.), assembly aids, test fixtures, and specialized ground support equipment critical for SRM production.
• Drive the design process leveraging advanced CAD software, engineering analysis (FEA, DFM, DFA), and simulation to ensure tooling is robust, repeatable, ergonomic, and optimized for high-rate manufacturing.
• Take full ownership of the prototyping and validation phases, overseeing fabrication, assembly, testing, and iterating on designs to achieve optimal performance and manufacturability.
• Spearhead the transition from design to full production release, including creating comprehensive documentation packages, detailed work instructions, maintenance procedures, and quality control plans specifically for your owned tooling.
• Collaborate closely with internal manufacturing teams, quality engineers, and external vendors to define tooling requirements, manage fabrication, troubleshoot issues, and continuously improve tooling performance and lifespan.
• Apply rigorous Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles not only to the product but, critically, to the tooling itself, ensuring robust, efficient, and scalable production processes.
• Act as a primary technical resource for all matters related to the tooling you own, providing expert guidance and problem-solving support throughout the entire manufacturing value chain.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, with a significant focus on manufacturing or production engineering.
• Proven track record of holistic ownership over mechanical design projects from concept through full production release and implementation.
• Direct experience designing, prototyping, and implementing production-grade manufacturing tooling (e.g., jigs, fixtures, molds, assembly aids, test fixtures).
• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, NX, CATIA) and demonstrable experience with FEA for mechanical analysis and design validation.
• Strong understanding and application of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles to both product and tooling designs.
• Deep knowledge of various manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, welding, additive manufacturing, casting, composite fabrication) and their application in tooling design.
• Experienced with understanding and implementing Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• A strong self-starter who consistently takes initiative, operates effectively with minimal external guidance, and resourcefully gathers information to overcome obstacles.
• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with manufacturing processes specific to solid rocket motors, energetic materials, or highly regulated/critical aerospace components.
• Direct experience designing complex molds for energetic materials (e.g., propellant casting), insulation, or composite structures.
• Expert-level proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Experience in the aerospace, defense, or energetics industries, particularly with high-reliability or safety-critical systems.
• Proven experience managing external vendors and suppliers for tooling fabrication, including technical oversight and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small technical projects or mentor junior engineers.
• Advanced proficiency in Siemens NX and demonstrated experience with Teamcenter for efficient engineering data management and design collaboration.