Senior Mechanical Engineer: Optical Payload, Space

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · AFS : Space Engineering : Space Mechanical

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company developing advanced military systems. This role focuses on the mechanical design of space payloads, including opto-mechanical design, analysis, testing, and ownership from concept to launch. The company utilizes an AI-powered operating system (Lattice OS) and integrates AI, computer vision, and sensor fusion into its products, but this specific role is not directly building or researching AI/ML models.

What you'd actually do

  1. Create opto-mechanical designs of space payloads ranging from small cameras to large telescopes
  2. Act as Responsible Engineer: conduct analyses, visit vendors and test sites, define and execute test plans, and manage subsystem interfaces
  3. Run finite element models and hand calculations to predict stresses in mechanical and optical components
  4. Contribute to STOP analyses to evaluate structural and thermal effects on optical performance
  5. Conduct hand calculations and run higher order thermal analyses to evaluate survival and operational on-orbit temperatures including solar loading effects through apertures and optics

Skills

Required

  • BS or higher degree in engineering or hard science
  • Ability to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance
  • 5+ years of mechanical design experience and demonstrated track record of success
  • Experience with exotic opto-mechanical materials (composites, titanium, beryllium, Invar, Zerodur, etc.)
  • Experience with tolerance stack-ups, mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaigns
  • CAD 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 materials
  • Excellent attention to detail, highly motivated, self-starting, and autonomous
  • Organized with ability to define scope and requirements for ambiguous problems
  • Experience with high-reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistance

Nice to have

  • Experience in NX/Teamcenter
  • Hands-on technical project experience (academic, extracurricular, or personal)
  • Parallel industry experience
  • Ability to integrate electronic components (PCBAs, motors, sensors) into mechanical designs
  • Coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for analytical models and data acquisition/automation
  • Structural or thermal testing experience including sensor selection, data acquisition, and post-processing (Python preferred)

What the JD emphasized

  • Ability to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance
  • Experience with exotic opto-mechanical materials (composites, titanium, beryllium, Invar, Zerodur, etc.)
  • Experience with tolerance stack-ups, mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaigns
  • Strong fundamentals in optics, heat transfer, statics, solid mechanics, and materials
  • Experience with high-reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistance