Senior Project Engineer - Unmanned Systems

Anduril-1; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Senior Project Engineer for Unmanned Systems in Costa Mesa, CA. You will drive development and testing across autonomous platforms, collaborating with cross-functional teams to move concepts from design to production readiness.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, system integration, and leadership in a fast-paced environment, with DoD-related projects and strict regulatory compliance. Strong communication and problem-solving are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years test engineering experience.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Experience in tactical networks, software, and autonomous vehicle testing.
• Familiarity with DoD test ranges, spectrum compliance, and DoD acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on integration and testing strategies to meet mission autonomy project objectives.
• Coordinate testing activities including personnel, equipment, datalinks, test facilities, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee test and integration efforts at system and subsystem levels.
• Communicate test plans, procedures, cards and reports clearly in writing.
• Plan test events with cross‑department teams and lead successful execution.
• Participate in requirements development and design reviews with engineering teams.
• Support safety review boards and test readiness reviews.
• Lead RCA teams or initiatives.
• Create system documentation (manuals, checklists, procedures).
• Manage project/test progress status and schedules with leadership.
• Coordinate with government personnel on reviews and deliverables.
• Observe all laws and regulations relevant to the role.
• Test execution including hardware/software T&E, vehicle testing, and process improvement.
• Establish safe operational procedures and practices.

Skills

Autonomous systems testing

DoD regulations

Leadership

Communication

Travel readiness

Security clearance

Linux/Unix

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Tools

Jira

Confluence

SharePoint

GHE

CircleCI

Job description

Senior Project Engineer - Unmanned Systems

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.

Anduril is seeking driven individuals to join our growing Test and Evaluation team. In the Projecting Engineering role, you will be heavily involved in new development and solving complex problems. You will be positioned at the intersection of a variety of critical teams that you will work with to help progress from initial concept through production ready. Your day-to-day focus will change often as you navigate a complex product development roadmap, but it should include opportunities such as developing a cross‑functional strategy, system integration, planning and program execution. Anduril is a rapidly growing company, and the right person for this role should be able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment with many competing priorities.

Candidates for this role should have extensive experience in autonomous systems testing and DoD developmental efforts. They should be technically inclined and able to comfortably understand core engineering design principals. The right individual needs to be excited about the prospects of working on a growing team and will be expected contribute from day one.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Collaborate on integration and testing strategies to meet mission autonomy project objectives.
• Facilitate and coordinate all aspects of testing activates. Including but not limited to: personnel, equipment, datalinks, test facilities, and regulatory compliance.
• Work oversight and guidance of all test and integration efforts at the system and subsystem levels
• Communicate clearly, and in writing, all facets of a test program to include test plans, test procedures, test cards and test reports.
• Work with multiple cross-department organizations to plan test events and lead the successful execution of those test events.
• Participate in requirements development and design reviews with various engineering teams
• Support safety review boards and test readiness reviews.
• Leading or contributing to RCA teams or initiatives
• Facilitation/creation of associated system documentation (system manuals, checklists, acceptance procedures, etc)
• Coordination includes project and test progress status, interfacing with program leadership, preparing and maintaining technical and tactical level schedules and plans, and managing resource constraints
• Work closely with government personnel to align project goals, facilitate communication, coordinate efforts on technical reviews and deliverables.
• Responsible for observing all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Test execution responsibilities, when needed, include T&E of hardware and software with emphasis placed on resource planning, conducting stationary and dynamic vehicle testing, process improvement/development and participating in technical test reviews.
• Establish safe operational procedures and practices.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and 7+ years test engineering experience.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required for planning and testing
• Previous experience in tactical network, software development, and autonomous vehicle testing.
• Expertise and working knowledge of DoD test range regulations, spectrum compliance, and DoD Acquisitions organizations.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly; apply them accurately; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Ability to troubleshoot in high‑pressure or time‑sensitive situations
• Experience in agile development software and engineering tools (Jira, Confluence, Sharepoint, GHE, Circle CI)
• Must have strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Prior experience as a test director, test conductor.
• Experience working with the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Familiarity with Linux/Unix OS; comfortable obtaining data from software platforms using command‑line tools.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Strong leadership skills, with previous experience in leading a team.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• In this role, you will be subject to pre‑employment and randomized substance screening, as required by the Company.

US Salary Range

$166,000 - $220,000 USD

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 .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion and maintain in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

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