Senior Thermal Engineer- Air Vehicles

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 Thermal Engineering team's work is essential to support our rapid innovation cycle and maintain the performance and reliability of advanced defense technologies.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Sr. Thermal Analysis Engineer to work in Costa Mesa, Ca, with In-depth understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Own the thermal design and analysis of a drone, aircraft, or missile.

• Use first principles as a basis for every decision and discern the right level of analysis to apply. Execute hand calculations, spreadsheet, and MATLAB/Python first-order models to inform path forward before jumping into detailed design.

• Define good thermal architecture to withstand rugged environments and demanding flight envelopes. Define hot, cold, and any other edge cases that need to be analyzed based on industry standards and intended use.

• Work with engineers in other disciplines to document power dissipations under different operating modes.

• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to thermal considerations.

• Own the thermal FEA/CFD models and predict system performance. Define red/yellow design limits for test and operation.

• Define and execute prototype builds and tests to verify thermal designs (do CAD, select sensors and DAQ equipment, post-process data, summarize results, etc.).

• Present thermal status at formal reviews internally and with customers. Provide clear understanding of timelines and technical status.

• Develop internal tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of analysis.

• Support failure reviews and root-cause analysis with test data and thermal analysis.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing or have obtained a MS or higher degree in engineering or applied physics with focus on heat transfer and fluid dynamics

• In-depth understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics

• Experience in the aerospace industry and an aircraft, rocket, or missile program

• 5+ years of experience designing thermal systems for integrated hardware products

• Practical experience designing passive and active thermal management systems

• Thermal testing experience –sensor selection, data acquisition, data post-processing

• Thermal FEA experience –STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, Icepak, or Flotherm

• CAD experience with SolidWorks or Siemens NX

• Passion for defending the United States and her allies

• Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing code in higher-level languages like Python or MATLAB for applications like lumped thermal capacitance steady state and transient analysis

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.

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.