Senior Systems Engineer - Payload Module Lead

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Top-tier benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries seeks a Senior Systems Engineer for the Thunder platform to design, integrate, verify, and validate a weapon payload module. You will lead a 6–8 person cross‑functional team across software, electrical, and mechanical disciplines, guiding test, fielding, and sustainment from requirements through deployment.

You will develop system designs, drive interfaces, and address safety interlocks while coordinating with customers and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Progressive engineering experience in leadership roles.
• Experience integrating weapons or avionics onto aircraft.
• U.S. Person status for ITAR and Top Secret eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration, verification, and validation of a weapon payload module onto Thunder.
• Direct or mentor a 6–8 engineer multidisciplinary team across software, electrical, mechanical.
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules for the module.
• Create system/architecture designs and derive module requirements.
• Troubleshoot conflicting design and development requirements.
• Drive MIL-STD 1553/1760 interfaces, mounts, and power/cooling for the module.
• Own SMS and fire control logic including state machines and safety interlocks.
• Coordinate with customers and suppliers on module integration issues.

Skills

C++

MATLAB

Python

Leadership

Systems engineering

MBSE

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in engineering, CS or related

Tools

MIL STD 1553

MIL STD 1760

NX/Teamcenter

SolidWorks

Cameo

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 TEAM

The Maneuver Dominance team is building Thunder - an autonomous attack rotorcraft built to fight alongside crewed combat aviation to deliver overwhelming mass effects deep beyond the front lines. The team in London builds the Mission System and the autonomy that makes aircraft like Thunder work.

Autonomy is only as good as the link that carries it. Thunder is a compact airframe with weapons, sensors and radios competing for the same antenna real estate, flying low and in formation, in a spectrum that is actively contested. That is the problem you are solving.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead the design, integration, verification, and validation of a specific payload or weapon module for the Thunder platform. Directly lead, or provide technical direction to, a multidisciplinary team of 6 to 8 engineers spanning software, electrical, and mechanical and structural disciplines, and drive hands on technical execution from requirements through test, fielding, and sustainment. This is a high-visibility leadership position that directly dictates how versatile and mission-effective the aircraft platform will be in the field.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead integration, verification, and validation of a specific weapon or payload module onto the Thunder platform
• Directly lead, or provide technical direction to, a team of 6 to 8 engineers across software, electrical, and mechanical and structural disciplines
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules for the module
• Develop system and architecture designs, perform system level analysis, and generate requirements for the module
• Troubleshoot conflicting design and development requirements
• Drive design and implementation of MIL STD 1553 and 1760 interfaces, structural mounts, and support installs (wiring, cooling, power) for the assigned module
• Own stores management system (SMS) and fire control logic specific to the module, including arm, select, and release state machines and safety interlocks
• Own safe separation analysis and testing for the module, covering trajectory clearance, jettison envelope, and captive carry and flight test support
• Run day to day agile execution for the team, including sprint planning, backlog management, and technical decision making
• Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents, Software Requirement Specifications, Performance Specifications, and review test plans and procedures
• Develop and present technical material for reviews and meetings
• Support lab, ground, and flight test events
• Coordinate with the Payloads Lead on cross module interface consistency and shared standards (MOSA/WOSA)
• Coordinate and interface directly with customers, contractors, and external payload and weapon supplier engineering teams on module specific integration issues
• Drive development of module specific test fixtures, bench setups, and SITL/HITL simulation environments
• Support ongoing operation of the fielded weapon system for the module
• Support proposals and white papers for future efforts or capabilities related to the module
• Provide hands on technical mentorship and direction to team engineers across disciplines
• Travel up to 25% to test sites and integration facilities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution, with progressive engineering experience as follows: nine or more years with a bachelor’s degree, seven or more years with a master’s degree, or five or more years with a PhD; equivalent engineering experience may substitute for education
• Software programming or embedded systems experience (familiarity with C++, MATLAB, Python, PERL scripting, etc.)
• Familiarity with air to air weapons, MIL STD 1553, and logical Interface Control Documents
• Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft
• Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks
• Experience directly leading or technically directing a small multidisciplinary engineering team (software, electrical, mechanical)
• Experience designing or validating safety critical state machines and interlock logic (arm and fire sequencing, consent based release)
• Must be customer focused with the ability to formulate and implement plans to resolve technical engineering problems
• Ability to travel to support program and test events (up to 25 percent)
• U.S. Person status (citizenship or lawful permanent residency) required for ITAR and export controlled work
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Direct hands on experience integrating a named weapon system (for example Hellfire, Hydra 70), Air Launched Effects, or laser target designation systems
• Experience with weapon and store carriage structural design, including mounting, load analysis, and jettison and separation clearance
• Experience with safe separation analysis, captive carry testing, or flight test support for weapon release clearance
• Experience with stores management systems (SMS) or similar weapon interface controllers
• Familiarity with bus analyzers and test tooling for 1553/1760 (for example Astronics/Ballard, DDC)
• Experience on special mission unit or SOF platform weaponization and conversion programs
• Experience in NX/Teamcenter or Solidworks
• Experience designing mechanical parts and test equipment (CAD)
• Understanding of manufacturing methods (machining, sheet metal, composites, 3D printing, injection molding, composite lamination)
• Familiarity with MBSE tooling (SysML, Cameo, Jama, or similar)

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:

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.