Autonomous Defense Programs Lead Engineer

Anduril Industries; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Highly competitive PTO plans

Family planning and parenting support

Mental health resources

Professional development reimbursement

Company-funded commuter benefits

Relocation assistance

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Irvine, CA is seeking a Chief Engineer to drive innovation in autonomy and robotics. This role demands over 7 years of experience in systems engineering and technical program management. Responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, technical ownership, and tactical execution to meet operational goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and the ability to navigate complex challenges in a fast-paced environment, with a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions for defense applications.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years experience as a Chief Engineer or similar.
• Proven experience in defense or aerospace domains.
• Experience leading technical teams in real operating environments.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Must be able to obtain a minimum Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with stakeholders and align objectives.
• Drive technical outcomes and own product development.
• Manage tactical execution from development to delivery.
• Translate business goals into actionable project plans.
• Shape requirements to favor optimal product outcomes.
• Enable collaboration across multiple teams.
• Support technical proposals for project growth.

Skills

Technical program management

Systems engineering

Robotics

Client-facing communication

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Engineering discipline

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

A leading defense technology company in Irvine, CA is seeking a Chief Engineer to drive innovation in autonomy and robotics. This role demands over 7 years of experience in systems engineering and technical program management. Responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, technical ownership, and tactical execution to meet operational goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and the ability to navigate complex challenges in a fast-paced environment, with a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions for defense applications.