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Job Description

Overview

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on enhancing military capabilities through advanced technology. They are seeking a Prototype Model Fabricator to join their Model Shop team in Costa Mesa, CA, where the role involves building scale physical design models using various model-making techniques.

Responsibilities

  • Build scale physical design models utilizing a wide range of model-making techniques.
  • Execute final surface prepping, hand-sanding, bonding, and priming to ensure a flawless finish.
  • Read and interpret design blueprints and technical drawings.
  • Collaborate with designers, engineers, and fellow fabricators.
  • Utilize and help maintain shop machinery and equipment.
  • Monitor and report shop consumables inventory needs.
  • Maintain strict accuracy and quality standards.
  • Participate in team meetings to improve workflow and efficiency.
  • Keep the shop organized, clean, and safe.

Requirements

  • 10+ years experience in physical model builds.
  • Ability to operate machining, fabrication, woodworking equipment.
  • Sheet metal fabrication experience using various forming equipment.
  • Welding (GMAW/FCAW/GTAW) of steel, stainless, and aluminum with 5+ years experience.
  • Ability to work through Model Making tasks with limited oversight.
  • Ability to fit, surface and paint high quality physical models.
  • High level of mechanical aptitude (aerospace/automotive/motorsports background).
  • Strong attention to detail and pride in workmanship.
  • Advanced knowledge of engineering design and model making procedures.
  • Ability to multi-task.
  • Ability to work overtime and weekends.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding, flexible team environment.
  • U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.

Benefits

Additional Information

  • Location: Costa Mesa, CA.
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How this job compares in Costa Mesa, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $43/hr, this posting sits about 43% above the $30/hr median for welder fabricator jobs across California — toward the top of a $25–$36/hr middle band drawn from 59 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 86% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Costa Mesa, CA

Costa Mesa, CA is a small market in our index: 2 other active welding openings alongside this one, from 2 employers. Across California as a whole we're tracking 568 other active welding openings from 265 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across California.

Anduril Industries currently has 4 other openings live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (34), Vast (22), and Relativity Space (20). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Redondo Beach at $71/hr, Long Beach at $51/hr, and Torrance at $43/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

What you'll be running

This posting calls for MIG, TIG, and Flux-Core work. MIG (GMAW) feeds a continuous wire electrode through a shielding-gas nozzle. It lays down metal fast and is forgiving on clean material, which is why it dominates production and light fabrication work. TIG (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with filler added by hand, giving the operator the most control of any process. It is slow, demanding, and the standard for stainless, aluminum, and anything where the bead has to look as good as it holds.

See all welder fabricator openings if you want to compare this against similar roles.

Similar openings near Costa Mesa, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Sr. Prototype Model Fabricator figures were last recalculated when this page was built.