Principal Powertrain Engineer, Omen

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE TEAM 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. ABOUT THE ROLE 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. WHAT YOU'LL DO 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 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 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 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 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 US Salary Range $220,000 - $292,000 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: 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. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com . Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, Coachella , Principal Powertrain Engineer, Omen, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California