Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer: Payload/Sensor, Space

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE TEAM Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war-fighting domain. WHAT YOU’LL DO Create opto-mechanical designs of space payloads ranging from small cameras to large telescopes Run finite element models and hand calculations to predict stresses in mechanical and optical components Contribute to STOP analyses to evaluate structural and thermal effects on optical performance Design payload mechanisms (focus mechanisms, shutters, filter wheels, etc.) that survive launch and space environments 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 Design alignment features and conduct tolerance stack-ups enabling sub-arc second payload pointing and stability over large temperature ranges Own hardware design from concept to launch, intelligently pacing design maturity with a holistic program view Use first principles for every decision and continuously simplify designs Communicate pros/cons of system architectures with respect to mechanical design and packaging considerations Lead subsystem design reviews and provide clear status updates on timelines and technical progress Act as Responsible Engineer: conduct analyses, visit vendors and test sites, define and execute test plans, and manage subsystem interfaces Build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful designs to flight hardware and low-rate production Create excellent technical documentation (presentations, test plans/reports, procedures, drawings, specifications, etc.) Mentor junior engineers REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS BS or higher degree in engineering or hard science Ability to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance 5-10 years of mechanical design experience with space hardware and demonstrated track record of success Experience with exotic opto-mechanical materials (composites, titanium, beryllium, Invar, Zerodur, etc.) Experience with high-reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistance Experience with tolerance stack-ups, mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaigns Experience successfully fielding mechanisms in space environments CAD proficiency and ability to create engineering drawings meeting industry standards 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 Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 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) US Salary Range $132,000 - $198,000 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: Healthcare Benefits US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility. Retirement Savings Plan US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. AUS Roles: Superannuation plan. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 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 contact@anduril.com . 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/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, Santa Ana , Senior Opto-Mechanical Engineer: Payload/Sensor, Space, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California