2027 Optical Payload Engineer Intern

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Benefits package

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking an Optical Payload Engineer intern for the Space team to guide EO payload integration from concept to on‑orbit execution. You will interface with multidisciplinary teams to mature payload designs and mitigate risk, while working hands‑on with test equipment and space hardware.

You will gain exposure to design reviews, requirement derivation, performance modeling, and mission operations, contributing to a cutting‑edge portfolio of space capabilities and sensors.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field.
• U.S. Person due to export‑controlled information; US clearance may be required.
• Must be returning to school after internship for at least one quarter/semester.
• Must be able to complete a 12-week in-person internship in summer 2027.

Responsibilities

• Perform concept designs of active and passive EO payloads.
• Derive system and unit level requirements.
• Analyze performance with understanding of payload physics and technology.
• Create test plans and procedures to measure key parameters in a lab.
• Characterize radiometric and geometric performance of flight hardware.
• Draft ICDs covering electrical, data, algorithmic, mechanical, thermal, and optical interfaces.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to resolve integration trades.
• Develop payload data calibration algorithms with computer vision and flight software teams.
• Define on-orbit calibration sequences and initialization procedures.
• Communicate with customers at design reviews and during the payload lifecycle.
• Assist assembly and integration campaigns for space systems hardware.
• Identify testing requirements across teams for verification and validation.
• Develop test plans and procedures for prototype, qualification, and acceptance of space systems hardware.

Skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Documentation

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

ImageJ

Python

MATLAB

Zemax

Code V

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

As an Optical Payload Engineer intern for our Space team, you will facilitate the integration of EO Payloads on our spacecraft platforms from initial concept development through on‑orbit execution. A successful candidate will have exposure to all phases of payload system engineering including architecture and requirement derivation, performance modeling, design reviews, laboratory testing, spacecraft assembly integration and test, on‑orbit initialization, and mission operations. Exposure to interfacing with all disciplines of engineering, specialty, and program management teams to shepherd a payload design to maturity is required.

You’ll be expected to clearly communicate risk, issues, and progress with customer representatives and external vendors in a collaborative environment. You will be expected to know how to configure and operate test equipment such as collimators, integrating spheres, interferometers, and other tools. Payloads you will be interacting with include photon detecting imagers from visible through long wave infrared wavebands including CMOS and CCD focal planes, thermal sensors including microbolometers, as well as LiDAR and laser range finders. Exposure to state‑of‑the‑art sensing technology such as event‑based cameras, quantum detectors, and metamaterials is also highly desired.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Perform concept designs of active and passive EO payloads
• Derive system and unit level requirements
• Analyze performance with an understanding of payload technology and related physics
• Identify payload key performance parameters and create test plans and procedures to measure these parameters in a laboratory environment
• Perform hands‑on characterization and calibration of the radiometric and geometric performance of flight hardware using collimators, integrating spheres, theodolites, laser trackers, interferometers, and other optical test equipment
• Work with the external and internal engineering team to author Interface Control Documents (ICD) covering all aspects of payload integration including electrical, data, algorithmic, mechanical, thermal, and optical interfaces
• Facilitate communication between mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to resolve complex integration trades and manage technical risk
• Define and develop payload data calibration algorithms and data products and work with computer vision and flight software engineers to integrate these algorithms into the processing pipeline
• Define on‑orbit calibration sequences, initialization procedures, and provide real‑time engineering support during nominal operations
• Clearly communicate with customers at design reviews and during the entire payload development lifecycle
• Assist assembly and integration campaigns for space systems flight hardware
• Integrate across numerous teams to collaboratively identify testing requirements to include verification and validation plans
• Develop test plans and procedures for prototype, qualification, and acceptance of space systems flight hardware

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Must be returning to school at the end of the internship to continue academic studies for at least one quarter or semester.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities; U.S. clearance eligibility may be required depending on program.
• Ability to complete an in‑person 12‑week internship in one of our offices in summer 2027.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience conducting assembly, integration and test of space payload flight hardware with a focus on performance characterization and requirement verification
• Understanding of professional optical test equipment, tools and methodologies with a tie back to the underlying physics
• Experience with advanced payload analyses and laboratory measurements including photon transfer, dark current, radiometry, responsivity, distortion mapping, boresight alignments, non‑uniformity corrections, point spread function, modulation transfer function, and more
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
• Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material
• Exposure to writing technical documentation, procedures, and reports
• Experience with ImageJ, Python, MATLAB
• Experience with optical test equipment from Labsphere, 4D Technologies, Leica, SORL, and other industry leaders
• Experience with stray light, depth of focus, and supplementary payload analyses
• Experience with optical modeling in tools such as Zemax or Code V
• Experience with RF payload design and testing

US Hourly Range

$40—$55 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.