Space Systems Engineer (Early Career) – Top Secret Eligibility

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking an Early Career Systems Engineer, Space in Costa Mesa, CA. You’ll work at the intersection of hardware, software, and mission operations to design, build, test, and field next-generation spacecraft and ground architectures.

You will translate customer objectives into engineering requirements, participate in lifecycle activities, and collaborate with engineers across disciplines to ensure successful program execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Systems, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related STEM field.
• 0–2 years of related experience (internships or project teams acceptable).
• Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their interactions.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, Excel, or CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Break down mission needs into system requirements, ICDs, and interfaces.
• Perform system-level trade studies to balance mass, power, link budgets, and margins.
• Prepare technical data packages and materials for program milestones.
• Collaborate with test and assembly engineers for environmental testing.
• Coordinate across flight software, GNC, payload, electrical, and ground teams to resolve issues.
• Manage budgets, risk registers, and verification matrices throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Strong communication

Systems engineering lifecycle

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Aerospace/Systems/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Excel

CAD software

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

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested warfighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for an Early Career Systems Engineer, Space to join our rapidly growing team in Costa Mesa, CA.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of hardware, software, and mission operations to help design, build, test, and field next-generation spacecraft and ground architectures.

Working closely with the Director of Engineer, Chief Engineers, Systems Engineers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will help translate high-level customer mission objectives into clear engineering requirements and operational realities. You will gain comprehensive exposure across the entire lifecycle of a space program—participating in system-level trade studies, interface definition, milestone design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR), qualification testing, and launch integration.

This role is tailored for a motivated recent graduate or early-career engineer who wants to build broad technical depth across orbital mechanics, mechanical, electrical, software, and payloads while moving fast in an agile development environment.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Support the breakdown and tracing of complex mission needs into functional system requirements, subsystem specifications, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Perform mission and system-level trade studies (e.g., mass, power, link budget, delta-V, and thermal margins) to balance risk, performance, and schedule.
• Assist in preparing technical data packages, analysis results, and presentation materials for major program milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR).
• Collaborate with test and assembly engineers to plan and execute functional checkouts, environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC), and acceptance testing aligned with industry standards (e.g., GEVS).
• Work across flight software, GNC, payload, electrical, and ground C2 teams to resolve technical discrepancies and ensure seamless hardware/software integration.
• Maintain system budgets (mass, power, data, RF link), risk registers, and verification matrices throughout the development lifecycle.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be pursuing or have recently completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM field.
• 0–2 years of professional, internship, or hands-on university project team experience (e.g., university CubeSat team, rocketry club, high-altitude balloon project, or related multidisciplinary engineering team).
• Baseline understanding of spacecraft subsystems (structures, thermal, power, avionics, GNC, communications, and payloads) and how they interact.
• Familiarity with the systems engineering lifecycle, requirements definition, and trade-study methodologies.
• Proficiency with modeling/analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, Excel, or CAD software.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to summarize complex technical findings clearly.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Hands-on experience developing, integrating, or testing small satellites, payloads, or autonomous robotic systems.
• Familiarity with spacecraft environmental testing standards (e.g., SMC-S-016 / MIL-STD-1540, NASA GEVS).
• Exposure to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts or tools (e.g., SysML, Cameo).
• Exposure to hardware-software integration, lab test equipment, and FlatSat environments.

US Salary Range

$99,000—$130,000 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.

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