Principal Powertrain Engineer, Omen
About The Position
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. 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
