Senior Sourcing Engineer, Optics and Infrared Materials

Anduril • Waltham, MA

18d • $161,000 - $212,000

About The Position

Anduril Imaging builds electro-optical and infrared sensor systems for Anduril platforms and standalone products. Its hardware includes precision optics, cooled infrared detectors, custom electronics, and tight-tolerance electromechanical assemblies, with several products moving from development into rate production.

The Senior Sourcing Engineer owns supply-chain outcomes and end-to-end supplier relationships, from source identification and commercial negotiations through capacity setup and production ramp. The role requires deep knowledge of infrared optics and materials, including germanium crystal, boules and blanks; chalcogenide infrared glass; lens and window fabrication, grinding, polishing, diamond turning, centering and optical coatings; lens cell and optical assemblies; and detector and dewar assemblies, cold filters and cryocoolers.

The position addresses supply exposure in germanium and alternative materials by working beyond tier-one suppliers into feedstock, modeling material-price scenarios, and structuring forward positions and consignment arrangements. The engineer coordinates supplier information across programs, develops cost models, secures capacity ahead of ramp, engages engineering before designs are finalized, mitigates bill-of-material risks, resolves disruptions, incorporates compliance requirements into sourcing decisions, and completes supplier capability and authorization evaluations in coordination with the Supplier Quality Organization.

The role requires 8 or more years of relevant experience, a bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience), and travel of 10–25% for vendor visits. Candidates must be eligible to access export-controlled technical data under U.S. export control law and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. secret clearance. The stated U.S. base salary range is $161,000–$212,000. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers. Anduril also states that it offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, available at little to no cost.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 8 or more years across sourcing engineering, commodity management, supplier development, supplier quality, manufacturing engineering, or cost engineering.
• Experience owning supplier relationships involving both technical assessment and commercial negotiation.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and CAD models and assemblies.
• Ability to travel 10–25% of the time for vendor on-site visits.
• Eligible to access export-controlled technical data under United States export control law.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced technical degree.
• Experience in infrared or electro-optical systems, precision optics, photonics, sensors, or other high-precision hardware.
• Experience with should-cost or clean-sheet cost modeling, design-to-cost, or value engineering.
• Experience taking a product from development into rate production, particularly in high-mix, low-volume environments.
• Experience negotiating long-term agreements, supply agreements, or capacity commitments.
• Familiarity with defense acquisition regulation flowdowns, export control, rated orders, country of origin, or domestic content requirements.
• Experience in a fast-moving company where processes were still being built.

Responsibilities

• Own supplier relationships end to end, including identifying and selecting sources, running requests for quote, contributing to make-or-buy decisions, and serving as the commercial and technical owner.
• Coordinate supplier signals consistently across programs.
• Draft and negotiate pricing, capacity commitments, lead times, payment, warranty, and service terms; pursue long-term agreements that secure capacity.
• Develop should-cost and clean-sheet models, analyze quote cost breakdowns, drive lifecycle total cost of ownership, and reconcile bill-of-material cost with finance.
• Map supply-network lead time and flexibility, place coverage ahead of demand, and resolve capacity gaps before they affect schedules.
• Engage engineering before design lock by providing design-for-manufacturability feedback and supply-informed input on specifications, availability, lead time, and lifecycle health.
• Assess bill-of-material risks, qualify alternates and second sources, drive commonality and supplier rationalization, and manage obsolescence.
• Participate in program reviews and operational escalation forums; triage disruptions, resolve shortages, and drive supplier issues to resolution, including executive escalation when warranted.
• Incorporate country-of-origin, domestic-content, defense-acquisition regulation, export-control, and rated-order requirements into supplier selection and purchase-order structure.
• Own capability and authorization portions of supplier evaluations and coordinate with the Supplier Quality Organization.
• Work with upstream suppliers and feedstock sources, model material-price scenarios, and structure forward positions and consignment arrangements to secure supply.

Benefits

• Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers.
• Top-tier benefits for full-time employees, available at little to no cost to employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior