Flight Test Engineer

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive equity grants

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, California is seeking a Flight Test Engineer to join their Test and Evaluation team. This role involves test planning, execution, and evaluation of software and hardware for the Altius UAS platform, with a focus on ensuring system performance and reliability.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and strong communication skills, along with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. A salary range of $112,000 to $149,000 is offered for this position, reflecting the high standards Anduril maintains for its team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for test planning, execution, reporting and evaluation.
• Support test events and manage test documentation.
• Collect metrics for flight test events.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Detail-oriented

Ability to understand new concepts quickly

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline

Tools

Linux based operating systems

FAA certification

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.

The Test and Evaluation team at Anduril plays a crucial role in our mission, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. Our team conducts full system level development testing, new production acceptance testing, software validation testing and much more. This position is looking for a highly motivated flight test engineer with emphasis in software/hardware capability development and evaluation for the Altius UAS platform. Altius is a Group 2/3 autonomous vehicle specializing in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. You will be responsible for the evaluation of the software and hardware capabilities for operational suitability as well as Altius’s integration into the full suite of Anduril systems to complete complex operations.

What You’ll Do

• As a flight test engineer, under minimal supervision, you will be responsible for test planning, execution, reporting, and evaluating the system under test (software and/or hardware).
• Test duties include:
• Support and plan test events conducted at test sites as required by the specific test.
• Configuration management of test owned assets. This includes specific to test configuration management (hardware components, specific payloads, software/firmware configuration) as well as fleet management (facilitate and track required maintenance, planning/assigning asset requirements for current testing and future efforts).
• Generation of evaluation test plans and reports focusing on system functionality and suitability of software and hardware integration efforts. In addition to technical test planning, planning includes safety (risk, hazards, develop mitigations) and logistical (available hardware, airspace, personnel resources, timeline/scheduling).
• Generate and execute test cards, conduct pre and post flight briefings, and manage test events with diverse support teams (pilots, engineering subject matter experts (SME), operations). Testing execution will include operating Altius when conducting system evaluation testing.
• Collaborate with SMEs and cross functional teams within the business line through development and production testing, reporting of test findings, and test status. This includes adjudication of testing tasks and characterization of issues, observations, and detailing results.
• Interface daily with hardware and software engineering teams.
• Collect metrics for flight test events to include sortie information and delays.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Must have strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills. Must play in active role in strengthening communication channels both within the team and externally (engineering, program leadership, operations).
• Methodical, thorough, and detail oriented.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Willingness to learn new skills and concepts.
• Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 107: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certification.
• Current or able to acquire an FAA 14 CFR Part 61: Certification Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors (ground test complete is the ONLY requirement).
• Previous experience or working knowledge of National Airspace and UAS operating guidelines and regulations.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Ability to travel as required for planning and testing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong software and documentation experience; familiarity with Linux based operating systems, networking, ssh, and command line.
• 1-3 years flight test engineering or system level testing experience.
• Knowledge and experience with Group 2/3 fixed wing systems
• Experience working DOD programs.

US Salary Range

$112,000—$149,000 USD

Benefits

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.