UAV Operations, Bolt

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans

Generous PTO with caregiver and wellness leave

Relocation Assistance based on role eligibility

Income Protection including life and disability insurance

Job summary

A defense technology company in Costa Mesa is seeking a Technical Operations Engineer for the Bolt program. This role involves supporting military aviation projects and troubleshooting issues in unstructured environments. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of relevant experience and a strong mechanical aptitude. The position is not eligible for remote work and requires a willingness to travel up to 80%. Candidates must also be eligible for U.S. security clearances.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in problem solving with hardware, software, and networking.
• Strong mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot operational systems.
• Willingness to travel up to 80%.

Responsibilities

• Support military aviation projects by executing flight operations and providing customer field support.
• Tackle hardware, software, and networking issues.
• Communicate field issue statuses to internal teams.

Skills

Problem solving in unstructured environments

Mechanical aptitude

Flight operations knowledge

Strong problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, or mechanical engineering

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, 3‑D 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 Tactical Recon & Strike (TRS) team at Anduril develops small aerial drones (Group 1‑3) along with all the necessary equipment for testing, deployment, and operation. The team transforms products like Ghost, Anvil, Altius, and Bolt from initial concepts into operational systems. We work closely with specialized teams to tackle some of our customers’ most complex challenges. Currently, we are seeking a technical operations engineer for the Bolt program where you will leverage your operational and technical expertise to shape and deploy a solution of maximum effectiveness and reliability. Your scope will include standing up forward‑deployed operations in austere environments, ensuring the successful combat employment of Anduril products, and shaping the long‑term sustainment of these products. In addition, you will be a core participant in customer demonstrations and customer trainings, and test events closer to home.

About The Job

As a member of the Technical Operations team for TRS, you will play a critical role in bridging product engineering and deployed operations. You will be involved in unmanned air vehicle development programs, using your technical and operational expertise to deliver reliable solutions in challenging, remote environments. The Technical Operations team also plays an essential role in shaping the field sustainment of these products through various test and evaluation events, customer demonstrations, and deployments.

What You’ll Do

• Support military aviation projects by executing flight operations, conducting field maintenance, providing customer field support and training
• Tackle complex issues related to hardware, software, and networking in unstructured situations, driving them to resolution
• Drive events as the SME of the product, advising customers on operational employment and best practices
• Communicate field issue status to internal and customer teams, keeping them informed
• Support the development and implementation of comprehensive operational and logistical plans for various events
• Maintain support plans for hardware and software
• Assist in event planning and resource allocation, keeping key stakeholders informed about Technical Operations requirements
• Incident‑response root‑cause analyses (RCAs) for air systems in the field
• Conduct post‑incident reviews and implement preventive measures
• Maintain up‑to‑date documentation

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience of strong problem solving in unstructured environments at the interface of hardware, software, and networking
• Strong mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot and repair critical site product components and infrastructure
• Demonstrated understanding of flight operations, aircraft systems, and sensors
• Willingness to work with energetic material (warheads)
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently or collaboratively in a team
• Willingness to travel up to 80%
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Secret security clearance
• Must be able to obtain and maintain 14 CFR Part 107
• This position is based in Costa Mesa, CA, and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, or related field
• Experience with weapon systems for manned aircraft, UAS, or missiles
• Experience with munitions live fire testing or munitions handling
• Experience with VTOL quad‑copter air systems
• Demonstrated coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages (NixOS and Rust preferred)
• Background in military deployments with Special Operations Forces, or to hazard zones

US Salary Range

$113,000—$149,000 USD

Healthcare Benefits

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents

Additional Benefits

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work‑life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development
• Commuter Benefits: Company‑funded commuter benefits based on your region
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility

Retirement Savings Plan

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after‑tax (mega backdoor Roth) options
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan

Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams

• No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
• Please always verify communications:
  • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address
  • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency’s authenticity by reaching out to [e-mail]
• Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender’s email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
• What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to [e-mail]. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts

Data Privacy

To view Anduril’s candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/