Deputy Chief Engineer, Autonomous Airpower

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Generous time off and PTO plans

Access to mental health resources

Retirement savings plan options

Job summary

A defense technology company is seeking an experienced engineer to own aircraft subsystems from design through production. The role requires at least 7 years of technical engineering experience and a relevant engineering degree. It includes establishing program vision, managing risks, and leading design projects. The estimated salary ranges from $191,000 to $253,000 with a comprehensive benefits package offered, including healthcare, paid time off, and professional development reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical engineering experience in a professional environment.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.
• Experience leading technical new start development projects.

Responsibilities

• Own vehicle subsystems from conceptual through production design.
• Establish program vision and communicate with the team.
• Manage technical and programmatic risks for responsible systems.

Skills

Experience developing, building, and testing large aircraft subsystems

Strong oral and written communication skills

Technical new start development project leadership

Education

Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical or Software Engineering Degree

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.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own vehicle subsystems / design scope from conceptual design phase through detailed design, build, test and productionization.
• Establish program plan/vision and communicate to team while ensuring they stay on track
• Coordinate and execute design level trades working with various functional engineering teams
• Incorporate expert knowledge of first principles aircraft design, design standards, system safety, test methodology and risk reduction across team.
• Establish requirements, design review entrance/exit criteria, etc.
• Own interfaces between subsystems
• Manage technical and programmatic risks for systems you are responsible for.
• Negotiate workflows with functional engineering leaders
• Develop budgetary estimates and schedules working with functional engineering teams
• Develop staffing estimates, and work with functional engineering and operations teams to recruit top talent and integrate them into the team.
• Monitor budget and schedule performance to ensure appropriate performance.
• Coordinate transitions between engineering and manufacturing, test, and production

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing, building, and testing large aircraft subsystems.
• 7+ years of technical engineering experience in a professional environment
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience leading technical new start development projects.
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance
• Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical or Software Engineering Degree

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Aviation passion demonstrated through FAA pilots license, Airframe and Powerplant license, Experimental Aircraft/Homebuilding etc.
• Demonstrated ability to take designs from concept to flight.
• Unmanned aircraft development experience
• Strong hands on technical skills - both professional and hobby

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:

Healthcare Benefits

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

Additional Benefits

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

Retirement Savings Plan

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after‑tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.