Senior Materials Engineer, Metals

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE JOB Anduril's Materials & Process Engineering Team is seeking a metallurgical expert specializing in castings and welding to join our rapidly growing team in Costa Mesa, CA. As we scale production of advanced defense systems, the integrity of our cast and welded structures becomes paramount. You'll own the complete lifecycle of cast and welded components—from material selection through qualification, production, and field performance. The right person doesn't just know the standards; they understand the metallurgical fundamentals that explain why the standards exist and when it's appropriate to exceed them. WHAT YOU'LL DO Own casting (investment, sand, permanent mold, die) and welding (fusion and solid-state) processes from concept through production across aluminum, steel, titanium, and nickel-based alloys. Establish internal specifications, test protocols, and acceptance criteria for castings and welds tailored to mission requirements. Define "right-sized solutions" —backed by data and first principles—when industry standards fall short or prove excessive. Lead supplier qualification of foundries and welding shops, transforming vendors into strategic partners through technical assessment and development. Design and execute characterization programs using metallography, SEM/EDS, mechanical testing, NDT (RT, UT, PT, MT), and failure analysis. Partner with design teams during early development to influence geometry, joint design, and specifications before drawings are released, preventing costly redesigns. Lead root cause investigations —systematically identifying failure mechanisms and implementing corrective actions that address root causes. Develop tools, templates, databases, and training materials that build organizational capability. Mentor junior engineers in metallurgical fundamentals. Use first principles physics as a basis for every decision. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's or higher in Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Welding Engineering, or related discipline. Minimum 7-10 years of hands-on industry experience with castings and/or welding in aerospace, defense, marine, or similarly demanding applications. Demonstrated ownership of cast or welded structures through complete product lifecycle, from development through production and field performance. Deep metallurgical knowledge of solidification phenomena, weld metallurgy, HAZ behavior, residual stresses, and failure mechanisms specific to castings and welds. Practical expertise developing weld procedures (WPS/PQR), casting process parameters, and qualification testing per relevant standards (AWS, AMS, MIL-STD). Proficiency interpreting engineering drawings including weld symbols, GD&T, and casting tolerances. Ability to guide design engineers on proper specification of casting and welding requirements. Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with systematic problem-solving approach. Excellent communication skills across technical levels, from design engineers to executive leadership. Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Proven track record with structural castings or welds in marine or aerospace applications under complex loading or corrosive environments. Direct experience with advanced processes (investment casting, friction stir welding, electron beam/laser welding, dissimilar metal joining). Hands-on capability in welding or casting process execution—running trials and adjusting parameters. Experience establishing material property databases or design allowables (A-basis, B-basis) per MMPDS or CMH-17. Familiarity with CAD software (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) or simulation tools (casting simulation, weld distortion prediction). Active participation in technical societies (AWS, AFS, TMS, ASM) or standards committees. US Salary Range $146,000 - $194,000 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, Vista , Senior Materials Engineer, Metals, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California