Director, Program Test & Evaluation - Advanced Effects

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA, is seeking a Director of Test & Evaluation Engineering focused on developmental testing. You will lead a cross-functional team across UAS and weapon systems, shaping testing strategies and coordinating with leadership to drive high-impact programs.

You will oversee flight test planning, data analysis, and compliance with DoD standards, while managing resources and ensuring safety. A security clearance is required and travel may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline; equivalent experience accepted.
• 12+ years as test conductor/director for developmental aircraft and payload integration, or 10+ years as lead test conductor/director for weapon/missile systems.
• Broad understanding of engineering concepts and related technical disciplines.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new concepts, organize work, and solve complex problems.
• Experience with surrogate booster motor integration.
• Strong understanding of vehicle, payload, and ground safety requirements.
• Familiarity with DoD programs and funding opportunities.
• Experience with MIL-STD and DoD standards and processes.
• Experience integrating tests with launch systems and arming/release equipment.
• Knowledge of National Airspace System and UAS operating rules.
• Leadership experience and ability to manage teams.
• Willingness to travel and work extended hours.
• Ability to obtain/maintain active U.S. security clearance.
• Bias for action and problem-solving drive.

Responsibilities

• Lead a diverse team across multiple UAS and weapon systems.
• Develop and execute T&E strategies for integration, planning, execution, and operations.
• Guide flight test engineers and control room personnel in planning, execution, and reporting.
• Oversee system and subsystem test and integration efforts and track progress.
• Interface with program leadership and manage resource constraints.
• Support growth and proposals during contract shaping and capture.
• Direct engineering activities to achieve program objectives with effective testing solutions.
• Plan and report lab, ground, and flight tests and analyze initial data.
• Coordinate with FAA and military agencies on test range COAs and testing requirements.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and safety procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Test & Evaluation

Program management

DoD knowledge

Flight test experience

System safety knowledge

Security clearance

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

C++

Python

Go

Java

JavaScript

Linux

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 ROLE

This position is looking for a highly motivated Director of Test & Evaluation Engineering with emphasis in developmental test, with additional experience performing test lead/manager responsibilities. You will work heavily with the program leadership and a wide spectrum of cross-departments to help build and lead a team focused on solving hard problems and changing the industry forever. Anduril is a rapidly growing company, and the right person for this role should be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment with many competing priorities.
The Test and Evaluation team at Anduril works across the entire spectrum of products and business lines, as well as all flight operations and test range management. Our team conducts full system level development testing, new production acceptance testing, sub-component qualification testing and much more. In short, if it involves test, we support it. If you are interested in working in an extremely innovative and fast-paced environment, where your work directly makes an impact and difference in the products that are fielded, this is a fantastic opportunity.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead a diverse group of individuals, including test engineering and maintenance personnel across multiple UAS and weapon systems
• Develop and execute company leadership directives, including creating unique T&E strategies for integration, planning, execution, and operations, with a focus on solving hard problems and changing the industry
• Manage and guide the technical efforts of flight test engineers and control room personnel, providing direct input to test event planning, preparation, execution, and reporting
• Oversee all test and integration efforts at the system and subsystem levels, ensuring projects are coordinated and test progress status is tracked/communicated
• Interface with program leadership, and managing resource constraints
• Directly contribute to periodic and milestone engineering reviews, facilitating technical discussions between Anduril and customer representatives, and support the Growth and Proposal team during contract shaping, capture, and expansion
• Direct engineering activities, including team building, execution, process, and technical oversight strategies, to achieve program objectives and creative test and evaluation solutions
• When required, plan, execute, and report on lab, ground, and flight tests, overseeing test data collection and performing initial data analysis
• Work with FAA and Military certifying agencies to establish new test range COAs or requirements for testing on government-owned ranges, and conduct ground and flight testing at private and government-owned test ranges
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations, and applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company, and work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent engineering experience
• 12+ years of experience as a test conductor/director for developmental aircraft and payload integration, or 10+ years of experience as a lead test conductor/test director for developmental weapon or missile systems on manned and/or unmanned aircraft
• Possess a complete understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory, with broad application and expansive knowledge of related technical specialties
• Demonstrate the ability to understand new concepts quickly, apply them accurately, organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases, and determine appropriate approaches to solve complex problems at the task or project level
• Experience with surrogate booster motor integration
• Strong understanding of vehicle, payload, and ground safety equipment requirements.
• Familiarity with adjacent missile technology programs and funding opportunities.
• Experience with system engineering or DoD program processes (EVM, MIL-STD-881, etc.).
• Working knowledge of military standards (MIL-STD-8591, MIL-STD-2088, MIL-STD-1553, MIL-STD-1760, AS8775, AS5653, etc.).
• Experience integrating and conducting tests with ground or ship-based launch systems, and with suspension, arming, and release equipment
• Experience working with the Department of Defense (DoD), including knowledge of DCMA INST 8210, MIL-STD-516, and service-related T&E guiding documents, as well as foundational expertise in the National Airspace System and UAS operating rules
• Experience with system engineering or Department of Defense (DoD) program processes (e.g., EVM, MIL-STD-881) and previous working knowledge of relevant MIL-STD and AS standards
• Experience integrating and conducting tests with suspension, arming, and release equipment, and familiarity with military missile system airworthiness certification standards and processes
• Strong leadership skills with previous experience in leading a team and experience managing individuals or teams
• Ability to travel as required for test planning and execution, and able to work extended hours as required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance
• A 'bias for action' - a drive to solve and fix problems

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Category 1:

• A Master's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent engineering experience
• 15+ years of experience as a test conductor/director for developmental aircraft and payload integration, or 10+ years of experience as a lead test conductor/test director for developmental weapon or missile systems on manned and/or unmanned aircraft
• Experience being part of the first flight of a developmental aircraft, Weapon or Rocket system.
• Prior experience in ground and /or air launch weapon systems.
• Prior experience in Supersonic / Hypersonic Vehicle design and propulsion system flight testing
• Prior experience in solid or liquid rocket propellent engine/booster testing
• Prior experience with software code/script building using languages such as Go, Java, C++, Python, JavaScript, etc., and experience with Linux-based systems and command line
• Expertise in developing Flight Safety Systems (FSS) compliant with MRTFB, RCC, and FAA standards.
• Knowledge of Flight Termination System (FTS) integration with range support and monitoring equipment.
• Working knowledge with Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Small UAS autopilot and mission planning software
• Experience working with manned aircraft personnel and familiarity with aviation terminology
• Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks, and experience with multiple different propulsion systems
• Previous experience working within a Combined Test Force or equivalent

Category 2, All items in category 1 plus:

• Prior experience in Supersonic / Hypersonic Vehicle design and propulsion system flight testing
• Integrating and testing multi stage rocket systems
• Prior experience in sub orbital rocket launches
• Prior experience testing high speed air breathing propulsion systems

US Salary Range

$220,000 - $292,000 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:

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.