Forward Deployed Engineer, Mission Autonomy

Slope; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to support military defense projects in Costa Mesa, CA. Responsibilities include managing Linux systems, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring seamless integration with customer infrastructures. Candidates should have over 3 years of experience, strong problem-solving skills, and be eligible for a top security clearance. The position offers a competitive salary range of $113,000 to $155,000. Benefits include comprehensive health support.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience solving problems at the interface of hardware, software, and networking.
• Ability to travel to remote regions for up to two months at a time.

Responsibilities

• Support military defense projects through field maintenance and customer support.
• Manage Linux systems and ensure seamless operation of deployed systems.

Skills

Problem solving in unstructured environments

Linux system administration

Kubernetes

Docker

Technical hardware maintenance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in computer science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field

Tools

Linux

Containerized environments

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

Anduril’s Deployment Operations group is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (internally known at Anduril as Technical Operations Engineer) to join our Mission Autonomy team. This is a Costa Mesa based role and not eligible for remote/hybrid work.

As a member of Anduril’s Technical Operations team, you will be responsible for deploying and supporting Anduril’s products all over the world. You will go forward with products early on in their lifecycle and work with engineering teams to iteratively improve them over time. The challenges you will encounter are innumerable and unpredictable, but you will be expected to take ownership of delivering the technical solution. You must be both a teacher and a student, able to coach teammates on systems that you’ve gained intimate familiarity with and then transition into mastering the next system. You’ll also guide users through product employment and troubleshooting, advise account managers on how to structure an operation to ensure technical success, and communicate specific recommendations for product refinement to engineering teams.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Support military defense projects by executing technical operations, conducting field maintenance, providing customer field support and training
• Provide end-to-end support for our Mission Autonomy systems, including hardware setup and software configuration
• Tackle complex issues related to hardware, software, and networking in unstructured situations, driving them to resolution
• Communicate field issue status to internal and customer teams, keeping them informed
• Support the development and implementation of comprehensive operational and logistical plans for various events
• Provide end-to-end support for our Mission Autonomy systems, including hardware setup and software configuration
• Pre-configure systems and ensure seamless integration with customer infrastructure
• Troubleshoot issues in real-time, applying analytical thinking and hands‑on problem‑solving skills
• Manage both low‑voltage and high‑voltage electrical components, ensuring reliability and safety
• Work with deployed systems such as Kubernetes and Docker, ensuring smooth operation and updates
• Administer and maintain Linux systems across all of our products, serving as a subject matter expert in systems administration
• Incident response root‑cause analyses (RCAs) for defense systems in the field
• Conduct post‑incident reviews and implement preventive measures
• Maintain up‑to‑date documentation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years of experience of strong problem solving in unstructured environments at the interface of hardware, software, and networking
• Experience with Linux system administration
• Proficient with containerized environments (Kubernetes, Docker)
• Proficient in working with hands and tools to assemble, repair, and maintain technical hardware in the field
• Ability to travel to remote regions of the world for up to two months at a time (up to 75% of the year)
• Ability to relocate, if not already local to be onsite in Costa Mesa, CA
• Ability to meet health and medical requirements in advance of deployments in accordance with DFARS 252.225-7040, DoDI 3020.41, and/or any additional requirements outlined by region or supporting force, as applicable
• Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Secret clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. in computer science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field
• Working knowledge of IP networking fundamentals and Linux command line interfaces
• Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams
• Prior military or overseas contracting experience

US Salary Range

$113,000 — $155,000 USD

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.