Chief Engineer

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 191,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, California, is seeking experienced engineers with a passion for system architecture and UAV design. The successful candidate will join the Tactical Recon & Strike team, responsible for developing aerial drones and ensuring integration engineering.

This role demands 7-10 years of experience, particularly in systems engineering, mechanical, and electrical engineering. The salary range is competitive, between $191,000 and $253,000 USD, with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of industry experience including system architecture.
• Demonstrated experience with conceptual design of vehicle systems.
• Proven track record of progressing from clean-sheet design to functioning hardware.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize system architecture for upgrades to existing vehicle systems.
• Develop interface controls for hardware and software integration.
• Conduct hands-on UAV testing with occasional travel.

Skills

Systems engineering

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Software development

Control theory

Robotics

Electronics troubleshooting

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 TEAM

The Tactical Recon & Strike team at Anduril develops aerial small drones (Group 1-3) and all equipment to test, deploy and operate. The team is responsible for taking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt and Altius from concepts to operational systems. We work in close coordination with specialist teams to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are excited about creating a powerful robotics platform that can be tasked and viewed in real-time through a variety of interfaces.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Conceptualize system architecture for upgrades and enhancements to existing vehicle systems
• Conceptual designs of small drones including sizing, system performance and initial prototyping
• Layout system design plans and interfaces for new UAV products and platforms
• Work within a team of multidisciplinary engineers and specialists throughout the life of UAV design and integration process
• Manage tactical engineering efforts, interfacing between different engineering and test disciplines
• Draft and develop test plans for critical subsystems, and support vehicle level acceptance testing
• Develop interface controls for partners and customers for hardware, software, and electrical integration of complex and unique payloads with existing and new Anduril UAVs
• Achieve maximum uptime by leading vehicle data analysis efforts to identify performance trends and develop predictive failure models
• Support build and benchtop testing of new vehicle systems
• Conduct hands‑on UAV testing with occasional travel

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7-10 years of industry experience including but not limited to system architecture
• Familiarity with concepts of systems engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software development, and control theory
• Demonstrated experience with conceptual design and vehicle system architecture
• Proven track record of progressing from clean sheet design to functioning hardware
• Hands‑on build and prototyping of complex robotic or aircraft systems
• A passion for systems development, integration, and testing
• Knowledge of electronics troubleshooting and ability to use basic test equipment
• Extremely organized and detail‑oriented
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills
• A sincere commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture
• Ability to travel as required for test planning and execution
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing electromechanical system models to inform the design, operation, and troubleshooting of complex subsystems
• Hands‑on manufacturing and/or flight testing experience
• Experience in design engineering
• Experience in software engineering
• Understanding of aerodynamics, avionics, and flight systems

US Salary Range: $191,000 – $253,000 USD

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.