Senior Materials and Process Engineer, Space

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 5, 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 -Standards Development & Implementation Establish and maintain material and process standards, including banned/approved materials lists, common material coatings, common procedures (torque, bonding, cleaning, etc.), and corrosion prevention and control requirements Develop and advance hardware design standards and common parts libraries Create comprehensive technical documentation (standards, procedures, test reports, vendor specifications, etc.) -Testing & Characterization Design and conduct testing to establish materials performance properties (off gassing characterization, thermal interface conductivity, insert strength, bond strength, etc.) Manage relationships with internal and external test laboratories for materials characterization and failure analysis Accelerate material evaluation, implementation, and qualification Select appropriate sensors and metrology equipment; oversee data acquisition and analysis -Contamination Control Develop and manage contamination budgets across multiple space programs, balancing operational costs with performance risks Implement and monitor contamination controls in assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) environments including cleanrooms, thermal chambers, and TVAC facilities Establish contamination monitoring protocols and cleanliness verification procedures Have working knowledge of contamination control procedures and best practices for precision optics -Material Selection and Design Support Collaborate with design engineers to select appropriate materials for spacecraft components Conduct material trade studies, evaluating performance against cost, manufacturability, and space environmental compatibility Understand how material selection affects the spacecraft subsystems including contamination of precision optics over the lifecycle of the spacecraft -Cross-Program Leadership Use first principles as a basis for decisions. Continuously look for opportunities to simplify and standardize. Prioritize efforts across multiple concurrent programs based on technical risk and schedule impact Identify recurring issues and implement scalable solutions as the organization grows Lead failure reviews and root cause investigations, building consensus on corrective actions Lead material review boards and evaluate material waiver requests Review vendor and subcontractor designs for materials and contamination compliance; develop clear technical requirements REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS BS in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or related field 4 years of hands-on experience with space hardware materials, processes, and contamination control including metallics and non-metallics Intimate familiarity with cleanroom classification levels, best practices, and operations Hands-on experience with spacecraft contamination control per IEST-STD-CC1246 or similar standards Familiarity with space industry standards (NASA-STD-6001, ECSS-Q-ST-70C, etc.) Proven experience establishing technical standards or specifications for hardware programs Strong foundation in materials science principles, including material properties, surface chemistry, and contamination mechanisms Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, and draw defensible engineering conclusions Self-directed work style with ability to define scope for ambiguous problems Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 10 years of materials and processes engineering experience on flight hardware programs Knowledge of manufacturing processes (bonding, heat treating, machining, coating, surface finishing, welding, composites, soldering, etc.) Proficiency in interpreting data from different material characterization techniques (FTIR, SEM, TGA, etc.) Understanding of space environment effects (charged particle radiation, UV exposure, atomic oxygen) Experience in adjacent high-reliability industries (aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical devices) Experience with statistical analysis tools and design of experiments (DOE) 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, Long Beach , Senior Materials and Process Engineer, Space, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California