Software Engineer - Payload Integrations

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

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Software Engineer to join the Payload Integrations team. You will design, build, and maintain software that brings sensors, comms, and mission payloads onto our autonomous vehicles.

Collaborate with hardware, electrical, autonomy, and systems engineers, as well as external payload vendors, to deliver reliable, well-tested components for flight. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, uphold high standards, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment at the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in CS/CE/EE.
• 3+ years of professional software development (embedded/robotics).
• Strong Rust and/or C++, with Python proficiency.
• Experience with hardware interfaces (UART/RS-422, CAN, Ethernet, SPI/I2C).
• Experience reading datasheets and ICDs for robust software.
• Linux-based development experience.
• Excellent collaboration with vendors and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software integrations for payloads on autonomous vehicles.
• Define interfaces between payloads and vehicle software stack.
• Work with ICDs, develop drivers, lead hardware bring-up in lab.
• Build HIL/test infrastructure to evaluate payloads before flight.
• Support integration events, ground and flight tests, root-cause analysis.
• Scope, estimate, and deliver payload integrations for customer projects.
• Contribute to safety-critical software for arming and weapons payloads.

Skills

Embedded systems

Rust

C++

Python

Hardware integration

Linux

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE or related field

Tools

UART/RS-422

CAN

Ethernet/UDP

SPI/I2C

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 Payload Integrations team owns everything that connects to the vehicle beyond the base platform. This includes gimbals and EO/IR sensors, arming and fuzing devices, weapons payloads, radios, and other mission hardware. We build the software and interfaces that enable these payloads to reliably run on the vehicle. Nearly every customer program needs a new or modified payload, which makes this team a critical contributor to nearly everything we ship. Our work goes from the lab bench to hardware-in-the-loop testing to live flight, and it has to work in a variety of demanding operational environments.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Software Engineer to join the Payload Integrations team. You will design, build, and maintain the software that brings new sensors, communications systems, and mission payloads onto our autonomous vehicles. You will work closely with hardware, electrical, autonomy, and systems engineering teams, as well as outside payload vendors, to turn new hardware into dependable, well-tested components of the vehicle. If you are self-motivated, hold yourself to high standards, enjoy working where software meets hardware, and do well in a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment, this role is for you.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Design and implement software integrations for gimbals, EO/IR sensors, radios, arming and fuzing devices, and other mission payloads on autonomous vehicles.
• Define and maintain clean, reusable interfaces between payloads and the vehicle software stack, to enable new payloads without changes to autonomy code.
• Work through vendor interface control documents (ICDs), implement device drivers and protocol handlers, and lead hardware bring-up in the lab.
• Build simulation, emulation, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test infrastructure to evaluate payload behavior before flight.
• Support integration events, ground tests, and flight tests, and root-cause issues across software, firmware, and hardware boundaries.
• Partner with program teams to scope, estimate, and deliver payload integrations for customer projects on tight timelines.
• Contribute to the safety-critical software behind arming and weapons-related payloads, with a high bar for rigor, review, and testing.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of professional software development experience, with a focus on embedded systems, robotics, or hardware integration.
• Strong experience with Rust and/or C++, plus working proficiency in Python.
• Hands‑on experience integrating hardware over common interfaces and protocols (e.g., UART/RS-422, CAN, Ethernet/UDP, SPI/I2C).
• Experience reading datasheets and ICDs and turning them into robust software implementations.
• Comfort debugging at the hardware/software boundary using lab equipment and bus/packet analysis.
• Experience developing on Linux-based systems.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, including working with external vendors and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• US Persons: Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export‑controlled information or facilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience integrating gimbals, cameras, EO/IR sensors, or tactical radios and datalinks.
• Familiarity with safety‑critical or arming/fuzing systems and related development practices.
• Experience with UAS, missiles, or other aerospace/defense platforms.
• Experience building HIL/SITL test environments or hardware emulators.
• Familiarity with middleware and serialization frameworks (e.g., Protobuf, gRPC, DDS, MAVLink).
• Experience with embedded Linux, real‑time systems, or resource‑constrained environments.
• Background supporting field integration and flight test campaigns.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.

US Salary Range

$167,000—$222,000 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.