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Senior Mechanical Engineer, Environmental Control Systems

Costa Mesa, California, United States
Full Time On-site
<div class="content-intro"><p>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.</p></div><p><strong>ABOUT THE TEAM</strong><br>Connected Warfare is the team at Anduril dedicated to the modernization of the command-and-control systems of U.S. and Allied forces. New technologies and adversaries demand a novel approach to battlefield intelligence, and you will be the driving force behind the integration of cutting-edge edge computing technologies that make that a reality. Such systems inherently require both electrical and mechanical components and we are looking for highly skilled engineers to own the design of electromechanical subassemblies on these tightly integrated products. Your work will not only create new products but also help to change the balance of defense capabilities on a global scale.<br><br><strong>ABOUT THE ROLE:</strong><br>We build shelters that go to the fight. You'll own the systems that keep them livable — and mission-capable — when the environment is trying to shut them down.&nbsp; This is a rare role: a chance to own an entire environmental control system end-to-end — from first-principles sizing calculations to the moment a soldier flips it on in the field — inside a small, tight-knit team that ships real hardware to real users. Our TITAN and Menace I shelters are the command posts, operations centers, and living spaces that warfighters depend on in the harshest environments on earth, and the HVAC/ECU is what makes them habitable and lethal. Today we work closely with a specialty supplier; over the next few years, we're bringing that design capability fully in-house — and we're looking for the engineer to lead that transition. You'll go deep on vapor-compression systems, psychrometrics, and CFD, and go wide across supplier partnerships, hands-on prototyping, and field testing alongside the operators who use what you build. You'll also define the technical roadmap for what our ECUs look like five years from now. We move fast, we ship hardware, and we listen hard to the warfighter. If you've spent your career wanting deeper ownership over the systems you design — and you want to point that expertise at something that matters — this is the seat for you.</p> <p><strong>WHAT YOU'LL DO</strong></p> <ul> <li>Own hardware from concept through real-world use</li> <li>Serve as a key part of a tight-knit product team</li> <li>Work with customers to understand real battlefield challenges</li> <li>Partner closely with our HVAC/ECU supplier to specify, evaluate, and refine hardware for our mission sets — driving requirements, reviewing designs, and making component and integration trade-offs</li> <li>Build the technical foundation and roadmap to bring HVAC/ECU design in-house over time</li> <li>Own the selection, sizing, and integration of internal components: compressors, condenser/evaporator coils, blowers/fans, expansion devices, refrigerant circuits, and controls</li> <li>Apply thermodynamics, heat transfer, and psychrometrics from first principles to size systems for extreme-environment performance (high-ambient cooling, sub-zero heating, high-latent-load conditions)</li> <li>Use CFD and thermal analysis to evaluate and optimize airflow, coil performance, condensation management, and packaging in tightly constrained, ruggedized enclosures</li> <li>Use engineering first-principles, analysis, and testing to ensure designs survive battlefield conditions (blowing sand, salt air, shock/vibration, air/land/sea transport)</li> <li>Get hands-on to build and test prototypes and first articles</li> <li>Travel to exercises and work alongside warfighters to support and collect feedback on our products</li> <li>Iterate on designs and work with suppliers and our manufacturing team to build and deliver them at scale</li> </ul> <p><strong>REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS</strong></p> <ul> <li>Demonstrated ability to design, prototype, and ship hardware</li> <li>Past record of design ownership in a team setting (professional or otherwise)</li> <li>High competence with, and fluid use of, engineering first principles</li> <li>7+ years of professional mechanical experience, with a focus in HVAC / refrigeration / environmental control unit design</li> <li>Demonstrated experience in vapor-compression system design — component selection, sizing, and integration of compressors, heat exchangers/coils, refrigerant circuits, and air-moving equipment</li> <li>Strong grounding in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics</li> <li>Experience working with suppliers or vendors on hardware design and build</li> <li>CAD skills (any platform) and ability to make high-quality engineering drawings</li> <li>Demonstrated hands-on fabrication skills</li> <li>BS, M.Eng, MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field</li> <li>Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities</li> </ul> <p><strong>PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS</strong></p> <ul> <li>Experience designing ruggedized, deployable, or mobile HVAC/ECU systems for extreme or military environments</li> <li>VapCyc</li> <li>CoilDesigner</li> <li>Hands-on CFD experience (ANSYS Fluent, CFX, or equivalent) for airflow and thermal optimization</li> <li>Knowledge of static, dynamic, or thermal analysis methods and use in ANSYS</li> <li>Experience with refrigerant selection and compliance (e.g., low-GWP refrigerants, evolving regulations)</li> <li>Familiarity with HVAC/refrigeration standards and test methods (e.g., AHRI, ASHRAE)</li> <li>Experience transitioning a product from a supplier/contract-manufacturer to in-house design and production</li> <li>Experience in NX/Teamcenter</li> <li>Ability to integrate electronic components into mechanical designs (motors, controllers, sensors, etc.)</li> <li>Experience with machining, sheet metal, composites, and 3D printing</li> <li>Active Top Secret Security clearance, but this isn't required</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">US Salary Range</div><div class="pay-range"><span>$146,000</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$194,000 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span data-contrast="auto">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:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="detailElios"><strong>Benefits</strong></h3> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.&nbsp;</span><em><span data-contrast="auto">For more information, <a href="https://www.anduril.com/careers">Explore Our Benefits</a>.</span></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="RichText column1"> <h3 class="detailElios"><strong>Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams</strong></h3> <p class="detailElios">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.</p> </div> <div class="RichText column2"> <p class="detailElios">To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:</p> <ul> <li> <p class="detailElios"><strong>No Financial Requests:&nbsp;</strong>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.</p> </li> <li><strong>Please always verify communications:</strong> <ul> <li>Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will <em>only</em> come from an <code>@anduril.com</code> address.</li> <li>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 <a href="mailto:contact@anduril.com">contact@anduril.com</a>.&nbsp;</li> </ul> </li> <li> <p class="detailElios"><strong>Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach:</strong>&nbsp;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.</p> </li> <li> <p class="detailElios"><strong>What to Do If You Suspect Fraud:</strong>&nbsp;Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:contact@anduril.com">contact@anduril.com</a>. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.</p> </li> </ul> </div> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><strong>Data Privacy</strong></h3> <p><span data-contrast="auto">To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit </span><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink"><a href="https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/">https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">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.</span></p></div>

About Anduril

Anduril

Anduril Industries is one of the fastest-growing defense technology companies in the United States, building advanced autonomous systems, AI-powered software, drones, and surveillance technologies for the U.S. military and allied partners. Founded in 2017, the company is helping modernize national defense through cutting-edge systems designed for land, sea, air, and space operations. Its core platform, Lattice OS, connects sensors, autonomous systems, and battlefield data to improve real-time decision-making for military operators.

For job seekers, Anduril offers the opportunity to work on some of the most advanced technologies in defense, including autonomous aircraft, counter-drone systems, robotics, AI, computer vision, and next-generation military platforms. The company hires across software engineering, hardware engineering, manufacturing, program management, operations, cybersecurity, and national security roles—making it especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to build technology with real mission impact.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Anduril operates with a fast-moving, startup-style culture focused on rapid innovation and deploying capabilities in months instead of years. Employees often describe the environment as mission-driven, highly technical, and engineering-focused, attracting professionals who want to solve difficult national security challenges while working with modern software and hardware development approaches.

As defense spending increasingly prioritizes autonomy, AI, drones, and advanced sensing systems, Anduril continues to expand rapidly and invest heavily in growth. With major government programs, rising demand for autonomous defense technologies, and significant investment backing, Anduril has become one of the most closely watched employers in the defense technology sector for professionals seeking a high-growth career with meaningful national security impact.

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