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Salary: USD 191,000 - 253,000 / annual
Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, is seeking a Lead Hardware Engineer to own the hardware architecture, development execution, and technical strategy for its ladar (light detection and ranging) product line. You will lead the transition of high-precision active electro-optical (EO) systems from early-stage prototypes and Engineering Development Units (EDUs) through Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) into scaled, high-rate production.
In this role, you will define domain-specific hardware architecture, component selection, and detailed mechanical, electrical, optical, and test engineering. You will lead a small team of engineers from concept ideation through system definition and development, carrying products through New Product Introduction (NPI) into production with overall oversight of hardware sustainment and evolutionary development.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning hardware architecture, component selection, physical design, and detailed engineering across mechanical, electrical, optical, and test disciplines
- Leading the critical transition from low-volume prototype units to high-rate EMD production
- Preparing hardware for major program milestones including Hardware SRR, PDR, CDR, and Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR)
- Managing the hardware side of NPI, coordinating inventory, and leading assembly of EDU and EMD-1 builds for field testing and environmental Design Verification Testing (DVT)
- Architecting, building, and ruggedizing manufacturing and optical test equipment for efficient, repeatable, and automated production-floor testing
- Defining, implementing, and tracking hardware Verification and Validation (V+V) metrics to ensure absolute system reliability in extreme physical environments
- Partnering with the Chief Engineer and functional engineering leads to ensure sufficient, high-performing hardware engineering staffing
- Owning the detailed hardware Continuous Improvement (CI) roadmap, overseeing the Configuration Control/Change Review Board (CRB), and driving rapid resolution of hardware field issues
You will work on systems deployed across land, sea, air, and space EO/IR applications, helping shape internal and external investment priorities to grow the scope and impact of your product family.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 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
- Security Clearance: 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
