Anduril Industries

Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration)

Anduril Industries$253K — $336K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering.
  • 15+ years of propulsion engineering experience on tactical missiles, launch vehicles, or air vehicles.
  • Professional experience with Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs).
  • Mastery of rocket internal ballistics and performance modeling.
  • Experience serving as Chief Engineer or ultimate technical authority on major solid rocket propulsion programs.
  • Able to identify and select strategic SRM suppliers and manage OEM relationships.
  • Experience defining comprehensive propulsion test programs.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the selection and integration of Solid Rocket Motors and associated systems.
  • Design and test prototype components and structural interfaces.
  • Plan and execute ground static fire and environmental tests.
  • Coordinate with SRM vendors and manage development projects.
  • Support hardware demonstrations with customers as needed.
  • Contribute to CAD design for structural integration and related components.
  • Travel to vendor and test sites as necessary.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive and competitive benefits package available at little to no cost.
  • Support in health, recovery, and future planning.
Full Job Description
ABOUT THE TEAM

The Air Dominance & Strike Propulsion Integration team is responsible for designing and integrating advanced hardware for Group 5 air vehicles and across missile platforms. Air Dominance & Strike Propulsion Engineers own the full development lifecycle, from concept generation, to integration and flight test, ensuring high-performance, resilient, and scalable mechanical systems that meet the demands of complex, contested environments.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Serve as a lead or key contributor in the selection, architecting, and integration of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), ignition systems, Thrust Vector Control (TVC) systems, and associated ordnance on missile platforms and air vehicles.
  • Design, fabricate, and test prototype components, structural interfaces, and thrust vectoring or ignition control systems.
  • Plan, instrument, and execute ground static fire, environmental, and integration tests of solid rocket propulsion systems.
  • Coordinate with SRM vendors, develop strategic partnerships, and manage development projects.
  • Lead or support critical hardware demonstrations with customers as needed.
  • Critical member of team supporting CAD design for structural integration, motor cases, nozzles, blast tubes, and aerodynamic / structural interfaces.
  • Travel to vendor sites, test sites and test ranges as needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (IC6- Principal)
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering.
  • 15+ years of propulsion engineering experience on tactical missiles, launch vehicles, or air vehicles.
  • Professional experience with Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) for defense or aerospace applications.
  • Mastery of rocket internal ballistics, performance modeling, and grain design; ability to influence SRM OEM design decisions to match vehicle requirements.
  • Served as the Chief Engineer or ultimate technical authority on a major solid rocket propulsion program, defining technology roadmaps and architectural baselines.
  • Experience identifying and selecting strategic SRM suppliers, managing critical OEM relationships, and establishing qualified supply chains.
  • Experience defining comprehensive propulsion test programs (including static fire testing, environmental qualification, hazards classification, acceptance, flight-test readiness) and troubleshooting system-level anomalies.
  • Experience advising executive leadership on technical risks, representing the company to key customers / government agencies, and mentoring mid-to-senior level engineers.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience in NX / Teamcenter, Python, MATLAB.
  • Hands-on experience with solid rocket motor testing, including static fire test practices, instrumentation, and data processing.
  • Previous work experience at a Solid Rocket Motor OEM or supplier, with a deep understanding of propellant formulation, grain geometries, and nozzle performance trade-offs.
  • Knowledge and experience working with Thrust Vector Control (TVC) systems, Ignition Safety Devices (ISD / ESAD), ordnance systems, telemetry / flight termination systems, burn rate enhancers (BRE).
  • Experience tailoring and conducting sensitive munition testing.
  • Experience procuring parts and working in a machine shop. Working knowledge of machine safety and shop safety protocols.
  • Active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.


US Salary Range

$253,000-$336,000 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 Principal Propulsion Engineer, Air Vehicles (Solid Rocket Motor Integration) jobs: