New

Warhead Design Engineer - Modeling & Simulation

Costa Mesa, California, United States

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Lethality team is responsible for the design, analysis, testing, and transition to production of advanced warhead and ordnance systems across multiple platforms. This team operates at the intersection of design engineering, explosives understanding, safety, test execution, and numerical analysis to help Anduril build high-performing, mission-relevant systems faster and with better technical judgment.

This is not a narrow, siloed engineering environment. The team supports a broad range of applications across land, air, sea, ship, underwater, and other mission contexts, depending on where warhead-related capability is needed. In practice, that means the team contributes not only to design maturity and performance analysis, but also to safety-related questions such as storage compatibility, accidental initiation, sympathetic detonation risk, and other system-level concerns.

The team also plays a critical role in helping Anduril move quickly without relying on unnecessary physical testing. Numerical analysis and simulation are used to guide design decisions, shape experimental setups, inform diagnostic strategies, interpret results, and improve future product and proposal work. This role sits directly in that loop.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is looking for a Warhead Design Engineer — Modeling & Simulation to join the  team in Costa Mesa, CA. This role is for an engineer who can use academic literature, empirical data, first-principles reasoning, and computational modeling to help steer warhead design and related ordnance decisions from concept maturity through testing and toward production readiness.

The objective of this role is not simply to run simulations. It is to use modeling and analysis as an engineering tool to improve decisions across design, explosive selection, initiation concepts, test planning, and post-test interpretation. The right person will help the team evaluate performance at a high level, build credible pre-test predictions, correlate model outputs to test data, and contribute to the broader engineering understanding needed to support complex munitions systems.

This role will support work across multiple programs rather than sitting in a tightly bounded lane. It is a strong fit for someone who wants broad technical exposure, meaningful influence on real engineering decisions, and the opportunity to work alongside a deeply technical team on some of the hardest warhead and effects problems in the business. Steven Todd described the role as one that should not be overly pigeonholed and that may grow into broader ownership over time depending on the person’s strengths.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

  • Leverage academic studies and literature, empirical data, and simulation to steer the design of warheads and missile/ordnance systems from concept design maturity to production.
  • Analyze lethality and performance using hand-calculations (Gurney equations) and multi-physics modeling and simulation tools (CTH, Sierra, Zapotec, etc.)
  • Create pre-test predictions and correlate models with test data.
  • Manage arena and system testing of munitions products from end-to-end, including project planning, design of experiments, and safety.
  • Capture test video, compile data from ground and flight tests, and analyze results.
  • Assemble/disassemble explosive test articles and precision targets.
  • Individual Impact In this role, you will directly influence how Anduril designs, evaluates, and matures advanced warhead systems. Your work will help the team:
    • absorb growing analysis demand across multiple active programs
    • make better engineering decisions earlier in the development cycle
    • reduce avoidable physical testing through smarter simulation and planning
    • design more informative experiments and diagnostics strategies
    • translate test data into better future designs, technical reports, customer-facing outputs, and proposal inputs

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • BS or higher degree in mechanical, aerospace, explosives, or another engineering discipline.
  • 2-10 years’ work experience as an individual contributing engineer, focused on mechanical design, analysis, and testing of warheads or ordnance systems.
  • Experience using multi-physics modeling and simulation tools such as ALE3D, Ansys Autodyn/LS-Dyna, CTH, EPIC, Matlab, Python, Sierra, Velodyne, Zapotec
  • Test experience including data acquisition, data analysis, and project coordination
  • Ability to travel as required for testing (surges up to 25%)
  • Experience preparing engineering documentation (i.e. specifications, test procedures, technical reports, drawings, etc.)
  • Passion for defending the United States and her allies
  • Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Active U.S. security clearance (DoD Secret or Top-Secret or DOE L or Q)
  • Expert level experience with multi-physics modeling and simulation tools
  • Experience with munitions testing
  • Experience with CAD design tools such as SolidWorks or NX CAD
  • Prior experience in explosive operations and/or handling munitions
  • Experience with the DoD Weapons Safety Boards
  • Experience designing and scaling production of mechanical components at volume
  • Experience developing or testing complex electrical or mechatronics systems

 

US Salary Range

$129,000 - $171,000 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/. 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Anduril Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.