Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer

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

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a senior Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer to decompose requirements, install instrumentation, and lead analyses for UAS platforms. You will work cross-functionally with engineers, program management, and customers to ensure test safety, speed-to-ramp, and reliable data displays.

The role requires substantial travel, TS clearance readiness, and the ability to operate in complex RF environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or related field; radar systems or data science backgrounds accepted.
• 5+ years with embedded data acquisition systems in manned or unmanned aircraft.
• Expert data visualization using MATLAB, LabVIEW, Simulink to translate complex data.
• Experience with high-channel RF telemetry and near real-time control room displays.
• Knowledge of grounding, bonding, shielding for analog-to-digital signals in multi-band RF.
• Experience with composite/exotic materials in flight-test environments.
• Ability to convert technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Willingness to work extended hours and travel for tests; TS clearance ability.
• Pre-employment and randomized substance screening as required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct requirements decomposition and install flight-test instrumentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to inform safety and speed-to-ramp decisions.
• Spearhead investigations to diagnose instrumentation and RF issues.
• Design analytics-driven customer-facing metrics of system performance.
• Design, fabricate and install sensors and data paths into experimental aircraft.
• Perform calibration and GO/NO-GO flight test sign-offs with engineers.
• Operate and maintain telemetry ground systems with COTS hardware/software.
• Travel up to 50% to various testing locations for planning and execution.

Skills

Embedded data acquisition

Data visualization

RF telemetry

Flight test instrumentation

Grounding and shielding

Composite material installations

Data science application

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Extended hours

Security clearance readiness

Education

BS in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or related; Radar Systems/Data Science accepted

MS degree (preferred)

10+ years flight test instrumentation experience

Tools

IADS

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Simulink

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

• Conduct requirements decomposition using a wide array of digital tools to select and install only the necessary flight test instrumentation, and effectively communicate analytical insights to stakeholders.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with discipline engineers, Customers, COMSEC, and program management to inform safety of test, safety of flight, strategic decisions, and positively impact 'speed-to-ramp'.
• Spearhead technical investigations to diagnose instrumentation and RF telemetry issues, providing leadership in the interpretation of data and formulation of solutions to improve system reliability and efficiency.
• Design and implement analytics-driven customer-facing products that showcase system performance metrics, provide trend analysis, and enhance user understanding and experience with our Group 5 UAS platforms.
• Design, fabricate and install flight test instrumentation sensors, data paths and equipment into one of a kind experimental aircraft, often utilizing novel approaches. This includes the fabrication of wire harnesses and routing through aircraft structure, often working directly with other integrated product teams to support program goals.
• Perform test instrument calibrations and pre-flight checks in conjunction with discipline and manufacturing engineers as an approving signatory for GO/NO-GO flight test decisions
• Operate and maintain a telemetry auto-tracking Ground System using COTS software and hardware
• Travel from Anduril HQ to establish FTI and RF telemetry solutions in the high desert of California, Nevada, Texas, and Oregon up to 50% of the time.

Core Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, Radar Systems, Data Science experience, with a strong quantitative and mechanical measurements foundation.
• 5+ years notable experience with embedded data acquisition systems in manned or unmanned aircraft.
• Exceptional data visualization skills, with proficiency in using analytical tools (e.g., IADS, MATLAB, LabVIEW, Simulink) to advise the translation of complex data into accessible visual formats for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated expertise in implementing high channel count (e.g. 100‑400 measurands) mechanical measurement systems and architecting RF telemetry for near real‑time display in a control room.
• A proven track record of implementing and troubleshooting grounding, bonding, and shielding solutions for analog-to-digital instrumentation signals in multi‑band RF environments.
• Experience with composite and exotic material installations across varying flight test environments.
• A strong commitment to applying data science to solve real‑world problems, with the ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations that have a tangible impact.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, program managers, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Ability to travel as required for test planning and execution
• Ability to immediately obtain a U.S. Top Secret-Level security clearance.
• In this role, you will be subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening, as required by the Company.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science or B.S. and 10+ years experience with flight test instrumentation on COTS Telemetry Solutions including ground and air equipment.
• 5+ years experience setting up and administering high channel-count, RF telemetry systems with the Interactive Analysis and Display System (IADS).
• Knowledge of best practices for implementing RF ground planes and architecting RF telemetry systems for maximum RF range on composite aircraft systems
• Leadership experience, with the ability to mentor less experienced discipline engineers and lead project teams in the execution of complex data acquisition initiatives.
• Experience working with 'Data-at-rest' multi-domain, encrypted storage devices on aircraft.

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.

Data Privacy

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

By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third‑party service provider to conduct pre‑employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third‑party service provider provides risk‑intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public‑record information, and other lawful open‑source or commercial data sources. This third‑party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.