Want to know if this job is worth applying to?
Costa Mesa, California, United States
Onsite
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.
The Development Fabrication team within Mechanical Services turns early engineering concepts into physical hardware for some of Anduril’s highest-priority programs.
This is not a production line.
Our team builds low-volume, high-complexity prototype hardware — custom chassis, structural frames, fixtures, test articles, and complex weldments — often while designs are still evolving. Fabricators work directly with design engineers to determine how hardware should actually be built, identify problems before they reach integration, and rapidly turn ideas into functional hardware.
Every build is different. The drawings may change. The material may fight you. A design that works perfectly in CAD may not work on the shop floor. Our job is to figure it out — quickly, safely, and correctly.
The result is a highly collaborative prototype environment where experienced fabricators are trusted for their judgment, not simply handed a print and told to weld.
As a Senior Development Fabrication Technician, you will take prototype hardware from drawing to finished assembly.
You’ll plan the build, select the right fabrication approach, lay out and fit components, weld and machine hardware, design fixtures, inspect your work, and solve problems as they emerge.
You will work directly with engineers when drawings are incomplete, tolerances create problems, or a design simply isn’t practical to manufacture. You’ll be expected to speak up, recommend a better path, and help the team get to the right hardware faster.
Some days you may fabricate a small precision assembly. Others may involve a large structural weldment or prototype supporting an entirely new vehicle or system.
This role is built for an experienced fabricator who wants complex problems, autonomy, variety, and ownership — not repetitive production work.
Own prototype builds from start to finish, translating engineering drawings, CAD, and work orders into finished hardware ready for integration or testing.
Determine the best build sequence, fabrication approach, tooling, fixturing, and material preparation strategy for each job.
Fabricate small through large-scale assemblies using layout, fitting, welding, cutting, drilling, grinding, forming, sawing, and conventional machining.
Build complex weldments across steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other alloys using GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW processes.
Design and build weld fixtures and tooling that maintain alignment and tight tolerances during fabrication.
Identify fit-up, tolerance, accessibility, distortion, sequencing, and manufacturability problems before they become integration problems.
Work directly with design engineers to resolve unclear drawings, incomplete designs, and manufacturability challenges.
Challenge designs when necessary and recommend practical changes that improve buildability, quality, and speed.
Perform dimensional and visual inspection of completed hardware and make sound decisions around rework, repair, or rebuild.
Independently execute R&D fabrication work with limited oversight, including evaluating the job, planning the work, identifying material needs, and completing the build.
Adapt quickly when designs, priorities, or program requirements change during a build.
Help raise the technical bar of the shop by sharing fabrication knowledge, mentoring teammates, and contributing to better fabrication practices.
Maintain a safe, organized work environment and consistently follow Anduril and OSHA safety requirements.
6+ years of hands-on fabrication, welding, or related metalworking experience, ideally in prototype, R&D, aerospace, motorsports, custom fabrication, or low-volume manufacturing environments.
Advanced experience with GMAW/MIG, FCAW, and GTAW/TIG welding processes.
Demonstrated experience fabricating steel, stainless steel, and aluminum assemblies.
Strong sheet-metal fabrication skills, including cutting, forming, fitting, and working with equipment such as brakes, rollers, saws, and related shop tooling.
Ability to independently read and interpret complex engineering drawings, including GD&T, weld symbols, dimensions, and tolerances.
Experience planning and executing fabrication work from raw material through completed assembly.
Working proficiency with conventional shop equipment, including manual mills and lathes, with the ability to hold approximately ±0.005-inch tolerances when required.
Strong practical understanding of fit-up, weld sequencing, distortion control, fixturing, and fabrication tolerances.
Ability to recognize when a design or fabrication approach will not work and determine an effective alternative.
Comfortable making sound technical decisions when drawings, requirements, or designs are still evolving.
Strong shop math, mechanical reasoning, and hands-on problem-solving ability.
Ability to communicate directly and constructively with engineers and other technical partners.
A collaborative mindset and willingness to share knowledge and mentor other fabricators.
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.
Experience working in aerospace, defense, automotive, motorsports, experimental vehicles, or other high-performance prototype environments.
Experience designing and fabricating complex weld fixtures.
Demonstrated ability to hold tight tolerances on large fabricated assemblies and weldments.
Familiarity with CAD tools such as NX or SolidWorks.
Experience working directly with design engineers during prototype development.
Working knowledge of aerospace or defense welding standards such as AWS D17.1, AWS D1.1, or NAVSEA requirements.
Experience mentoring junior fabricators or helping establish shop fabrication standards.
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:
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. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
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.
@anduril.com address.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.
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
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.
