Payloads Lead: Autonomous UAVs & Weapon Systems

Mosaic.tech; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA seeks a Payloads Engineer for the Maneuver Dominance team to lead mechanical design, analysis and integration of payloads into host aircraft. You will work across disciplines, solving hard autonomy problems and advancing autonomous air systems.

The role emphasizes ownership, hands‑on work, and collaboration with program leadership to deliver high‑impact aerospace solutions on multiple drone platforms.

Qualifications

• Nine+ years with a bachelor’s degree, seven+ with a master’s degree, or five+ with a PhD; equivalent experience accepted.
• Experience in software programming or embedded systems (C++, MATLAB, Python, PERL).
• Familiarity with Air‑to‑Air weapons, MIL‑STD‑1553, and interface control documents.
• Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft.
• Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks.
• Ability to travel up to 25% and obtain/maintain a U.S. TS clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support integration, verification, and validation of weapon systems on Anduril UAV platforms.
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules.
• Design system architectures, perform analysis, and generate requirements.
• Troubleshoot conflicting design/development requirements.
• Create and present technical materials for reviews.
• Support lab, ground, and flight test events.
• Create/interface documents and test procedures; coordinate with customers and engineers.
• Support proposals and provide direction to design and staff.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering/CS

Tools

C++

MATLAB

Python

PERL scripting

NX/Teamcenter

SolidWorks

CAD

MIL-STD-1553

Job description

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA seeks a Payloads Engineer for the Maneuver Dominance team to lead mechanical design, analysis and integration of payloads into host aircraft. You will work across disciplines, solving hard autonomy problems and advancing autonomous air systems.

The role emphasizes ownership, hands‑on work, and collaboration with program leadership to deliver high‑impact aerospace solutions on multiple drone platforms.