Materials Lab Technician, Mechanical Testing

andurilindustries

Costa Mesa, California, United States · Costa Mesa · United States

Posted Aug 12, 2026

Full-time
Hardware Platform : Hardware Engineering Services : Materials Engineering

Job description

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.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril designs and fields systems across an unusually broad materials portfolio, and the design decisions behind them depend on mechanical test data that is accurate, repeatable, and delivered on time. This role owns the execution of that testing.

This is your opportunity to be the person who makes the materials lab run — turning a growing set of capital equipment into dependable throughput, taking routine testing off engineers’ plates, and setting the standard for how mechanical testing gets done. You’ll own the bench, not just a task on it.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Run Mechanical Testing. Execute tensile, compression, and other mechanical tests to established methods (e.g., ASTM / ISO) across programs — set up fixturing, operate the load frame, and capture results accurately.
Prepare and Manage Specimens. Machine, measure, label, and track test specimens, maintaining traceability from receipt through reported result.
Own Data Quality. Capture, reduce, and record test data so results are accurate, complete, and analysis-ready for the engineering team.
Keep the Lab Running. Perform routine equipment upkeep, calibration checks, and consumable management to maximize uptime and equipment utilization.
Take Testing Off Engineers’ Plates. Absorb routine test execution so engineering time returns to design, analysis, and program support rather than running the bench.
Uphold Lab Safety and Order. Maintain a safe, clean, well-organized lab and follow all material-handling, PPE, and safety protocols.

WHO YOU ARE

You take pride in doing hands-on work precisely and repeatably. A test run to method and data you can stand behind is its own reward.
You are meticulous about the details that make data trustworthy — alignment, calibration, labeling, and traceability.
You have a bias for action and ownership. You keep the queue moving and don’t wait to be asked.
You communicate clearly with the engineers you support, surfacing anomalies rather than burying them.
You care about a safe, orderly lab and treat the equipment like it’s your own.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Associate degree in a technical field, or equivalent hands-on experience in a materials, mechanical, or manufacturing test environment
3+ years of hands-on experience operating mechanical test equipment (servo-hydraulic or electromechanical load frames)
Experience with specimen preparation and machining, precision measurement (calipers, micrometers, extensometers), and test fixturing
Working knowledge of standardized test methods (e.g., ASTM / ISO) and the discipline to follow them exactly
Careful data-capture and record-keeping habits, with strong attention to traceability
Comfort with basic shop and hand tools and a strong lab-safety mindset
Ability to manage a queue of work and shifting priorities independently in a fast-paced environment
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance
Experience with fatigue, fracture, or other advanced / dynamic mechanical testing
Experience testing advanced or non-standard materials — composites, high-temperature alloys, or additively-manufactured parts
Familiarity with metallography or specimen sectioning, mounting, and polishing
Hands-on experience with test-frame software and data-acquisition systems (e.g., Instron, MTS)
Calibration, gauge R&R, or equipment-maintenance experience

US Hourly Range

$41—$54 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.

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/.

By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.