Principal Powertrain Engineer, Omen

Anduril Industries•Costa Mesa, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

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 Anduril is seeking a Principal Powertrain Engineer to join the Omen team at our Costa Mesa HQ. Omen is Anduril’s hover-to-cruise autonomous air vehicle (AAV) that packs the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of much larger airplanes into a novel runway-independent Group 3 platform. Omen can operate from ship decks, beaches, or remote island clearings, providing true runway independence and freedom of maneuver across defense and civilian domains. Omen is the first tail-sitter aircraft with a mass-production contract, with an order of 50 systems representing a decisive investment that anchors production and accelerates the development of future systems. You will work on new aircraft development in a lean, high-ownership culture where you directly shape the product and operate at a velocity to fly new designs within months, not years. ABOUT THE ROLE In this role, you will design, develop, and integrate a high performance hybrid-electric propulsion system into the Omen air vehicle. You will own and design powertrain components from concept through production, optimizing for the unique demands of a tail-sitter platform including VTOL operations, efficient cruise flight, and rapid transition between flight modes. As a Principal Powertrain Engineer, you will work closely with program leadership and cross-functional teammates to deliver a high-performance, reliable propulsion solution. You will drive component selection, manage supplier relationships, lead testing and validation efforts, and ensure the powertrain meets performance, weight, thermal, and reliability requirements. This is a hands-on role where you will tackle hard technical problems, mentor junior engineers, and play a critical role in bringing a groundbreaking aircraft platform to operational reality. You will be a trusted subject matter expert in the design and development of our powertrain. Join our dynamic team and help us build the next generation of autonomous flight systems.

Requirements

High-ownership and a bias toward action – if you see a problem, you want to fix it
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineer, Robotics, Physics, or related technical discipline
Minimum of 12+ professional years in technical leadership roles such as a Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, or similarly relevant position focused on propulsion systems
Experience in engineering team leadership and project execution for aerospace, automotive, or defense sectors with focus on electric or hybrid propulsion
Proficiency in powertrain engineering skillsets including electric motors, transmissions, generators, power electronics, battery systems, and thermal management
Hands-on experience with propulsion system development, testing, and integration for aerospace platforms
Travel to test sites and vendors as needed

Nice To Haves

Direct experience developing hybrid-electric or electric propulsion systems for aircraft, rotorcraft, eVTOL, or UAS platforms
Proven track record leading propulsion systems through full qualification campaigns from early development through flight test and production
Experience with propulsion system modeling and simulation tools
Familiarity with aviation environmental and EMI standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, DO-160, or equivalent) and qualification campaigns for flight hardware
Experience with Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, or similar competitive engineering programs demonstrating hands-on vehicle integration experience

Responsibilities

Own the design of hybrid-electric propulsion systems including motors, generators, battery packs, fuel systems, power electronics, and propeller/rotor integration
Electric machine sizing and design, transmission sizing and design, inverter sizing and design, and how the full system integrates into the air vehicle.
Conduct powertrain performance analysis, thermal modeling, and energy optimization studies to meet mission requirements for endurance, payload capacity, and operational envelope
Lead the development and execution of test plans for powertrain subsystems and full-up systems, including ground test stands, HILs, and flight test
Define and validate technical performance measures including power, efficiency, thermal limits, and fault tolerance across all operating modes
Create detailed technical specifications and interface control documents for powertrain components and assemblies
Collaborate with the Airframe and Vehicle Controls teams for solutions on system packaging, structural/thermal interfaces, and thrust/power control architectures
Conduct design reviews, perform requirements analysis, and plan system verification to ensure compliance with project goals and industry standards
Establish and manage supplier relationships for critical powertrain components, including technical requirements definition, design reviews, and qualification oversight

Benefits

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.