Senior Weapons Integration Engineer, Thunder

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

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA, seeks a Senior Weapons Integration Engineer to lead end-to-end integration of kinetic stores and weapon systems on Thunder, an autonomous aircraft program. You will define Store Management System trades, implement MIL-STD interfaces, and ensure the platform’s mission software interfaces with modern armaments.

Engage with suppliers, airframe teams, and government customers to align safety and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of combined work experience in engineering.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-1553, MIL-STD-1760 interfaces and ICDs.
• Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support integration, verification, and validation of weapon systems on platforms.
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules.
• Develop system/architecture designs and generate requirements.
• Coordinate with customers, contractors, and engineering teams.
• Develop/interface control documents and test plans.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

Travel 25%

Communication skills

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in engineering or related field

Tools

MIL-STD-1553

MIL-STD-1760

Interface Control Documents

C/C++/Rust

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Senior Weapons Integration Engineer, Thunder

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 would own.

ABOUT THE JOB We’re looking for a Senior Weapons Integration Engineer to join the Thunder team in Costa Mesa, CA. As a Senior Weapons Integration Engineer, you will lead the end-to-end technical execution and tactical integration of kinetic stores and weapon systems onto an advanced autonomous aircraft program co‑developed with our airframe partner. You will architect critical Store Management System (SMS) trades, define digital and physical interfaces (e.g., MIL‑STD‑1760, UAI), and ensure the platform’s mission software reliably interfaces with diverse modern armaments. Serving as the platform’s weapons authority, you will interface closely with our internal autonomy teams, our partner’s airframe structures group, weapons suppliers, and government customers to synchronize mechanical bay constraints, safe separation dynamics, and fire‑control architectures. You will drive integration test plans, hazard and system‑level analyses, and regulatory flight safety baselines required for technical design reviews and weapon safety boards (e.g., WSESRB/NNMSB). This high‑impact role is instrumental in transforming an autonomous platform into an operationally decisive, airworthy combat capability.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead or support efforts performing integration, verification and/or validation of weapon systems onto Anduril or other‑party platforms
• Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules
• Develop system/architecture designs, perform system level analysis, and generate requirements
• Adjudicate conflicting design/development requirements with broader team
• Develop and present technical material for reviews and meetings
• Support lab, ground, and flight test events
• Develop/maintain Interface Control Documents, Software Requirement Specifications, Performance Specifications, presentations and review test plans/procedures
• Coordinate and interface with customers, contractors, and engineering groups assigned to projects
• Support ongoing operation of the weapons system(s)
• Provide support for proposals/white papers for future efforts or capabilities
• Provide direction to design and to technical staff
• Work with and manage suppliers to develop and procure hardware
• Identify risks and manage mitigation plans to closure

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree in engineering, computer science or a related technical discipline and progressive engineering experience as follows;
• 5+ years of combined work experience with post‑graduate study in an engineering discipline
• Familiarity with Air‑to‑Air/Air‑to‑Ground weapons, MIL‑STD‑1553, MIL‑STD‑1760, and logical Interface Control Documents
• Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft
• Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks
• 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%)
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to effectively interface with other departments or professionals and represent the organization as a prime technical contact
• Familiarity with Seek Eagle and Non‑Nuclear Munitions Safety Board processes
• Software programming or embedded systems experience (familiarity with C/C++/Rust, MATLAB, Python, etc.)

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 .

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.