Lead Hardware Engineer

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology.

As the Lead Hardware Engineer for our ladar product line, you will be responsible for the domain-specific detailed technical execution, hardware architecture, and engineering execution across all hardware disciplines (mechanical, electrical, optical, and test).

You will transition our high-precision active electro-optical (EO) systems from early-stage prototypes and Engineering Development Units (EDUs) through Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), and ultimately into scaled, high-rate production.

Responsibilities

• Define the "How" of Hardware: Own domain-specific hardware architecture, component selection, physical design, and detailed mechanical, electrical, optical, and test engineering.
• Transition and Scale Production: Lead the critical transition of our hardware from low-volume, hard-to-build prototype units to a high-rate EMD production environment.
• Deliver Major Milestones: Lead hardware preparation, technical artifacts, and clear-to-build criteria for upcoming program milestones, including Hardware SRR, PDR, CDR, and Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR).
• Manage EMD & NPI Builds: Own the hardware side of New Product Introduction (NPI). Coordinate, inventory, and lead the assembly of final EDU and EMD-1 builds, ensuring they are ready for field testing and environmental Design Verification Testing (DVT).
• Design & Ruggedize Test Equipment: Architect, build, and ruggedize manufacturing and optical test equipment to ensure highly efficient, repeatable, and automated testing on the production floor.
• Define V+V Metrics: Define, implement, and track hardware Verification and Validation (V+V) metrics Lead HW to ensure absolute system reliability in extreme physical environments.
• Staffing & Collaboration: Partner closely with the Chief Engineer. Work directly with functional engineering leads to ensure your product line has sufficient, high-performing hardware engineering staffing.
• Hardware Sustainment: Own the detailed hardware Continuous Improvement (CI) roadmap, oversee the hardware Configuration Control/Change Review Board (CRB), and drive rapid resolution of hardware field issues

Required Qualifications

• Education: Degree in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, systems engineering, physics, or a hard science.
• Experience: 8+ years of experience developing and deploying complex electromechanical, electro-optical, or active sensing systems.
• Technical Breadth: Deep engineering skillset spanning mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines, with proven experience performing system design, architecture definition, and performance modeling.
• NPI & Scale Experience: Proven experience managing New Product Introduction (NPI), leading initial system builds, and managing hardware scaling or sustainment at scale.
• Leadership: Strong track record of leading high-performance, cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Travel: Willingness to travel to test sites and manufacturing facilities as needed.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ladar/EO Domain Expertise: Direct experience defining, designing, and testing active optical/imaging systems, Ladar/Lidar, or high-precision pointing architectures.
• TRL Transition Experience: Proven success transitioning hardware from low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) / rapid prototyping environments to high-reliability, qualified EMD and production programs.
• Testing & DVT: Strong hands-on experience with environmental testing standards (thermal, shock, vibration) and using advanced design, simulation, and optical test equipment.
• Supply Chain and Operations: Familiarity with supply chain coordination, inventory management, and defining "clear to build" metrics for complex assemblies.