Anduril Industries

Engineering Technical Fellow, Solid Rocket Motors

Anduril Industries$253K — $330K *
Aerospace & Defense
15+ years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
  • At least 20 years of engineering experience in solid rocket motors, especially in defense applications.
  • Extensive knowledge in SRM technical areas such as propellant chemistry and structural analysis.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership in complex propulsion projects.
  • Experience with design reviews for SRM or missile systems.
  • Eligible for DoD Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the principal technical authority for SRM activities within missile programs.
  • Provide expert guidance on key SRM design components and processes.
  • Establish and maintain SRM technical standards and design practices.
  • Lead resolution of complex SRM technical challenges throughout the lifecycle.
  • Mentor engineering staff to develop technical expertise in SRM disciplines.
  • Oversee external vendor technical assessments and performance evaluations.
  • Collaborate with business development to support proposal efforts and customer engagements.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and recovery support at little to no cost to employees.
  • Highly competitive equity grants included in full-time offers.
  • Top-tier benefits package for all full-time employees.
Full Job Description
ABOUT THE JOB

The Technical Fellow for Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) Engineering serves as the organization's preeminent technical authority on all aspects of solid rocket motor design, development, production, and integration for missile programs. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Hardware Engineering within the Air Dominance and Strike division, this role provides division-level technical leadership that spans internal SRM development, external vendor management, and business development support. The Tech Fellow is expected to shape the strategic technical direction of SRM capabilities, mentor and develop engineering talent, and ensure that all SRM solutions meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
Technical Leadership & Guidance
  • Serve as the principal technical authority for all solid rocket motor design, development, testing, and integration activities across the Air Dominance and Strike division missile programs.
  • Provide expert guidance on SRM grain design, propellant formulation, nozzle design, case structures, ignition systems, thrust vector control, and insulation/liner systems.
  • Establish and maintain technical standards, design practices, and engineering processes for SRM development and integration.
  • Evaluate and guide the design of supporting systems including motor integration hardware, ordnance interfaces, safe and arm devices, and environmental protection systems.
  • Lead resolution of complex technical challenges related to SRM performance, reliability, producibility, and safety throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Provide authoritative technical assessments and risk evaluations for program leadership and executive decision-making.
Mentorship & Talent Development
  • Mentor and develop engineering staff at all levels, fostering deep technical expertise in SRM disciplines including propulsion physics, structural analysis, ballistic modeling, and test methodology.
  • Establish and lead technical training programs, brown-bag seminars, and design review frameworks to elevate team capabilities.
  • Serve as a career advisor and technical coach, helping engineers develop specialization tracks and advance within the technical leadership ladder.
  • Cultivate a culture of engineering rigor, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement across the engineering organization.
External SRM Vendor Engagement
  • Lead technical evaluation and review of external SRM vendor proposals, designs, and test data to ensure alignment with program requirements and performance specifications.
  • Conduct design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and performance assessments with vendor engineering teams.
  • Provide technical oversight of vendor development programs, including milestone reviews, qualification testing, and acceptance criteria definition.
  • Assess vendor technical maturity, manufacturing readiness, and risk posture to inform source selection and make/buy decisions.
Internal SRM Division Collaboration
  • Partner closely with the internal SRM division to review and guide proposed motor designs, development plans, and test programs.
  • Provide independent technical assessment and constructive challenge of internal SRM solutions to ensure design robustness and mission suitability.
  • Facilitate knowledge transfer and technical alignment between the internal SRM division and missile program engineering teams.
  • Support the internal SRM division in resolving production issues, anomaly investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Business Development & Capture Support
  • Collaborate with the Business Development team to provide technical expertise in support of proposals, capture activities, and customer engagements for missile programs.
  • Contribute to technical volume writing, solution architecture development, and competitive assessments for new business pursuits.
  • Represent the organization as a technical subject matter expert in customer meetings, industry conferences, and technical forums.
  • Support competitive analysis by evaluating SRM technology trends, emerging propulsion concepts, and the broader solid rocket motor industrial base.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • PhD. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Propulsion Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline (Master's degree with exceptional experience will be considered).
  • Minimum of 20 years of progressive engineering experience in solid rocket motor design, development, testing, or production, with a significant portion in missile or defense applications.
  • Demonstrated expertise across multiple SRM technical disciplines, including propellant chemistry, internal ballistics, structural analysis, nozzle design, and/or motor integration.
  • Proven track record of technical leadership on complex development or production programs for solid propulsion systems.
  • Experience leading or contributing to design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR, QTR) for SRM or integrated missile systems.
  • Must be edible to obtain and maintain at least a DoD Secret security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
  • Experience with both tactical and strategic missile SRM programs.
  • Prior experience in a Fellow, Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, or equivalent senior technical leadership role.
  • Published research or recognized contributions in solid propulsion, energetic materials, or related fields.
  • Experience with DoD acquisition processes (MIL-STD, MIL-SPEC) and qualification/certification frameworks for energetic systems.
  • Familiarity with insensitive munitions (IM) requirements and compliance approaches for solid rocket motors.
  • Experience supporting proposal development and technical capture activities in a competitive defense market.


US Salary Range

$253,000-$330,000 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:

Benefits

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.

About Anduril Industries

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that develops advanced systems for the military. The company was founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, and Matt Grimm, and has since grown to become a major player in the defense industry. Anduril's products include autonomous drones, surveillance systems, and other advanced technologies that are designed to enhance military capabilities. The company has received significant funding from investors and has partnerships with several major defense contractors. Anduril is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Learn more about Anduril Industries
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2017

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Anduril Industries

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Engineering Technical Fellow, Solid Rocket Motors jobs: