Powerplant Test Engineer - Aviation & Surrogate Systems

Anduril Industries, Inc.; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking an Integration & Test Engineer, Powerplant to join the Maneuver Dominance team at the Costa Mesa HQ. You will lead planning, integration, and execution of flight-test activities using surrogate platforms and powertrain rigs to characterize subsystem performance before integration into air vehicles.

This hands-on role blends test planning, fixture design, instrumentation, and data analysis, with an emphasis on safe operations and direct product impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems, or related engineering discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience in engine/powerplant test.
• 3+ years of experience testing internal combustion engines and/or turbine engines; genset experience is a strong plus.
• Direct experience with engine characterization and performance testing: dynamometer operation, fuel system characterization, FADEC/ECU calibration, and fault diagnosis.
• Ability to draft test plans and write clear, actionable test reports.
• Comfortable designing and building test fixtures and doing hands-on bench/technician work in addition to engineering tasks.
• Experience configuring and operating test software and data acquisition systems.
• Fluency in at least one common communication protocol (CAN, Ethernet, or Serial).
• Organized and able to coordinate with vendors/suppliers.
• Commitment to a positive, inclusive, collaborative culture.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and execute test plans for powerplant testing across engines, generators, and controls.
• Conduct hands-on testing of internal combustion and turbine engines on bench rigs and test cells.
• Write clear test reports with results, anomalies, and recommendations.
• Design and maintain test fixtures, jigs, and hardware mounting features.
• Configure test software and data acquisition to capture and report data.
• Build basic test harnesses and install instrumentation for testing.

Skills

Engine testing

Powerplant tests

Data acquisition

Test planning

Bench testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

DAQ software

CAN

Ethernet

ECU calibration

Job description

Anduril Industries is seeking an Integration & Test Engineer, Powerplant to join the Maneuver Dominance team at the Costa Mesa HQ. You will lead planning, integration, and execution of flight-test activities using surrogate platforms and powertrain rigs to characterize subsystem performance before integration into air vehicles.

This hands-on role blends test planning, fixture design, instrumentation, and data analysis, with an emphasis on safe operations and direct product impact.