Principal Engineer, Rapid Integration & Test

AI Chopping Block; Costa Mesa, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries seeks a Principal Engineer for the Rapid Integration and Test (RIT) team in Test & Evaluation. The role is hands-on and technical, focusing on complex integration and instrumentation for advanced test assets, with accountability for technical direction.

You will own the integration approach, mentor the team, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance while collaborating across programs and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline.
• Experience 15+ years and recognized expert with significant influence in the field.
• Hands-on UxS engineering experience — build, integration, and modification.
• Experience taking complex hardware/software systems from concept through flight test.
• In-depth knowledge of Pixhawk autopilot systems and the ArduPilot stack.
• Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, 3D printing, laser cutting, and composite materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of complex integration and instrumentation efforts on the team's larger, more capable test assets and platforms, from concept through functional capability.
• Perform hands‑on build, integration, instrumentation, and modification: fixtures, materials, power and avionics work, wiring and networking, and sensor and payload integration.
• Own the technical approach for the team's most complex integration and instrumentation work, and be accountable for results that shape RIT's technical direction in that area.
• Serve as a recognized technical authority across Business Lines and partner programs — influencing decisions on complex integrations and contributing to cross‑functional initiatives.
• Set technical direction and mentor the team as it takes on larger, more complex platforms.
• Develop and execute streamlined test plans, and ensure adherence to baseline safety plans.
• Cut through red tape while adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in weekly stand‑ups and provide SITREPs to leadership.

Skills

UxS engineering

Flight test experience

Hardware integration

Software integration

Mentoring

Safety compliance

Travel flexibility

Security clearance eligible

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Advanced degree in engineering/robotics

Tools

Pixhawk autopilot

ArduPilot stack

3D printing

Laser cutting

Composite materials

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 is seeking a Principal Engineer to serve as a recognized technical expert and senior individual contributor on the Rapid Integration and Test (RIT) team, within Test & Evaluation. You'll own the team's most complex integration and instrumentation work on larger, more capable test assets and platforms — accountable for results that shape RIT's technical direction. This is an individual-contributor role centered on hands‑on engineering and technical leadership, not people management.

What you'll do

• Lead the technical execution of complex integration and instrumentation efforts on the team's larger, more capable test assets and platforms, from concept through functional capability.
• Perform hands‑on build, integration, instrumentation, and modification: fixtures, materials, power and avionics work, wiring and networking, and sensor and payload integration.
• Own the technical approach for the team's most complex integration and instrumentation work, and be accountable for results that shape RIT's technical direction in that area.
• Serve as a recognized technical authority across Business Lines and partner programs — influencing decisions on complex integrations and contributing to cross‑functional initiatives.
• Set technical direction and, as part of that work, mentor the team as it takes on larger, more complex platforms.
• Develop and execute streamlined test plans, and ensure adherence to baseline safety plans.
• Cut through red tape while adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in weekly stand‑ups and provide Situation Reports (SITREPs) to leadership.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Typically 15+ years of relevant experience; recognized as a seasoned expert with significant influence in the field.
• Deep hands‑on UxS engineering expertise — build, integration, and modification (fixtures, materials, power/avionics), beyond integration‑to‑running.
• Experience taking complex hardware/software systems from concept through flight test.
• In‑depth knowledge of Pixhawk autopilot systems and the ArduPilot stack.
• Hands‑on experience with rapid prototyping, 3D printing, laser cutting, and composite materials.
• Practical experience with small UAS/drones; understanding of the National Airspace System and UAS regulations.
• Ability to set technical direction and mentor a team taking on larger, more complex platform work.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; self‑motivated; works independently and collaboratively.
• Willingness to travel and flexibility for extended hours.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• In this role, you will be subject to pre‑employment and randomized substance screening, as required by the Company.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience integrating, instrumenting, or modifying complex platforms and test assets.
• Advanced degree in engineering, robotics, computer science, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with RC helicopters or UAVs — piloting, maintenance, troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with rotary‑wing aerodynamics and flight control systems.
• Autonomy/robotics programming (Python, C++, ROS); FAA Part 107.

US Salary Range

$220,000 — $292,000 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. 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: 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.