Materials Engineer, Thermoplastics

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.

Anduril’s Materials Engineering team is seeking a Materials Engineer with a specialized background in thermoplastics to join our rapidly growing team. As part of Anduril’s commitment to innovation in defense technology, our materials engineering team is essential in developing the advanced materials that are at the core of our revolutionary products. In this role, you will have a significant impact on the materials we use and the efficiency with which we use them.

You will be expected to possess a robust understanding of material science and the application of organic materials in high‑performance environments. The right person doesn't just know the standards; they understand the fundamentals that explain why the standards exist and when it's appropriate to exceed them.

• Strategically select and evaluate polymeric materials for diverse applications.
• Assist in the development and testing of new materials to meet engineering and performance specifications.
• Conduct comprehensive material characterizations using techniques specific to polymers and adhesives, such as rheological testing, thermal analysis (DSC, TGA), spectroscopy (FTIR), and mechanical testing (tensile, compression, creep).
• Design robust test plans and protocols for the substantiation of material processes, analyze data, and ensure material reliability.
• Drive supplier development and qualification efforts, establishing robust a supply chain for injection molding plastics meeting Anduril’s high standards for performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and engineering teams to address material‑related challenges, ensuring the manufacturability and reliability of products.
• Maintain cutting‑edge knowledge in polymer science and technology, incorporating the latest research and advancements into Anduril’s material strategies.
• Document all phases of material development, from experimental setup to detailed analysis of results, and effectively communicate findings to the team and broader organization.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of the Materials Engineering team’s overall expertise in general polymeric materials.
• Use first principles physics as a basis for every decision.

• Bachelor’s or higher in Materials Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related field.
• 6‑8 years of industry experience focusing on the application of thermoplastics, adhesives, foams, or other organic materials in product development.
• Proven experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles, particularly as they pertain to thermoplastic and adhesive materials, ensuring that materials selection and application processes align with manufacturing capabilities and constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to support engineering design teams, providing materials expertise that informs the creation of engineering drawings and specifications. This includes proficiency in interpreting and advising on material tolerances, finishes, and processing techniques that can be accurately depicted in engineering documentation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of organic material properties, processing, and characterization techniques, with the ability to translate this knowledge into practical applications and manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to apply engineering principles to novel applications and to…