Chief Engineer - Tactical Effects

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Benefits package

Job summary

Anduril Industries is building a cutting-edge robotics platform, uniting software, hardware, and aviation know-how to deliver autonomous UAV solutions. This role focuses on conceptualizing architecture, designing drones, and coordinating cross-functional teams from concept to deployment.

The team works on high-end UAV platforms, requiring close collaboration across engineering domains and hands-on testing to ensure reliability and mission readiness.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of industry experience including system architecture.
• Experience with systems engineering and cross-disciplinary design.
• Proven track record from clean sheet design to functioning hardware.
• Ability to travel and obtain a U.S. Top Secret clearance.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; foster a positive, collaborative culture.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize system architecture for upgrades and enhancements to existing vehicle systems.
• Create conceptual designs of small drones including sizing, performance and prototyping.
• Layout system design plans and interfaces for new UAV products and platforms.
• Work within a team of multidisciplinary engineers and specialists throughout UAV design and integration.
• 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 payload integration.
• Achieve maximum uptime by leading vehicle data analysis to identify trends and develop predictive failure models.
• Support build and benchtop testing of new vehicle systems.
• Conduct hands-on UAV testing with occasional travel.

Skills

System architecture

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Test planning

Vehicle integration

Prototyping hardware

Travel readiness

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
• 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 software engineering
• Understanding of aerodynamics, avionics, and flight systems

US Salary Range

$191,000 - $253,000 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:

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 .

Voluntary Self-Identification

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.