Anduril Industries, Inc.
Chief Engineer - Air Dominance & Strike - Autonomous Air Vehicles
Anduril Industries, Inc., Costa Mesa, California, United States, 92626
Chief Engineer - Air Dominance & Strike - Autonomous Air Vehicles
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. Air Dominance and Strike (AD&S) Chief Engineering Team
They are a driving force behind the technical execution and strategic vision of our most critical programs. They architect product‑development vision, guide multidisciplinary teams, and own the mission while ensuring execution depth. About the Job
You’ll own the technical development of large aircraft from white‑paper sketches and conceptual design through detailed design, build, flight test, transition to production, and sustainment. Responsibilities include vehicle layout, airframe and propulsion system design, guidance section development, payload and datalink integration, fabrication, and flight test. Projects are diverse, requiring technical expertise and leadership to set objectives, build teams, and drive completion. You will leverage intuition and programmatic decision‑making to ensure that design, analysis, and testing steps add value and drive success. What You’ll Do
Lead technical and programmatic execution of new and existing air vehicle systems design, fabrication, test, productization, and sustainment. Own the technical and programmatic success of your programs, establishing vision, assembling teams of internal and external SMEs, and communicating that vision. Set up trades to explore early conceptual designs, working closely with SMEs and Business Development to fill DOD capability gaps. Manage detailed system and subsystem design, including requirements development, trades, optimization, risk management, and KPI consideration. Coordinate prototype fabrication, low‑rate production articles, and subsystem/system‑level test efforts. Support remotely deployed operations of your systems. Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure resource plans are adequate for work scope. Required Qualifications
Deep understanding of unmanned aircraft at and above Group 3 class. Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Software engineering, or equivalent experience. Experience in a senior role leading air vehicle programs from concept through test and delivery. Experience driving strategic direction in competitive landscapes and solving complex system optimization challenges under tight constraints. Proven ability to deliver functional capabilities while aligning technical objectives with programmatic outcomes. Demonstrated collaboration and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Strong understanding of the “why” behind vehicle and systems design. Experience working on mission‑critical DOD systems. Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed systems. Travel up to 50% to customer and test sites. Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance. US Salary Range
$254,000 – $336,000 USD. The salary range is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual offers may vary based on experience, education, skills, and business considerations. Equity grants are included in most full‑time offers; benefits are part of the total compensation package. Healthcare Benefits
US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: Full cost of medical insurance premiums covered for you and your dependents. IE Roles: Annual contribution toward private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits
Income Protection: Life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous Time Off: Competitive PTO, holiday hiatus in December, caregiver & wellness leave. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments, adoption, and gestational carriers. Mental Health Resources: 24/7 free mental health resources, therapy, and coaching; additional support services available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development. Commuter Benefits: Company‑funded commuter benefits based on your region. 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. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about specific compensation and benefit details during the hiring process. Interested in building your career at Anduril Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
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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. Air Dominance and Strike (AD&S) Chief Engineering Team
They are a driving force behind the technical execution and strategic vision of our most critical programs. They architect product‑development vision, guide multidisciplinary teams, and own the mission while ensuring execution depth. About the Job
You’ll own the technical development of large aircraft from white‑paper sketches and conceptual design through detailed design, build, flight test, transition to production, and sustainment. Responsibilities include vehicle layout, airframe and propulsion system design, guidance section development, payload and datalink integration, fabrication, and flight test. Projects are diverse, requiring technical expertise and leadership to set objectives, build teams, and drive completion. You will leverage intuition and programmatic decision‑making to ensure that design, analysis, and testing steps add value and drive success. What You’ll Do
Lead technical and programmatic execution of new and existing air vehicle systems design, fabrication, test, productization, and sustainment. Own the technical and programmatic success of your programs, establishing vision, assembling teams of internal and external SMEs, and communicating that vision. Set up trades to explore early conceptual designs, working closely with SMEs and Business Development to fill DOD capability gaps. Manage detailed system and subsystem design, including requirements development, trades, optimization, risk management, and KPI consideration. Coordinate prototype fabrication, low‑rate production articles, and subsystem/system‑level test efforts. Support remotely deployed operations of your systems. Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure resource plans are adequate for work scope. Required Qualifications
Deep understanding of unmanned aircraft at and above Group 3 class. Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Software engineering, or equivalent experience. Experience in a senior role leading air vehicle programs from concept through test and delivery. Experience driving strategic direction in competitive landscapes and solving complex system optimization challenges under tight constraints. Proven ability to deliver functional capabilities while aligning technical objectives with programmatic outcomes. Demonstrated collaboration and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Strong understanding of the “why” behind vehicle and systems design. Experience working on mission‑critical DOD systems. Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed systems. Travel up to 50% to customer and test sites. Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance. US Salary Range
$254,000 – $336,000 USD. The salary range is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual offers may vary based on experience, education, skills, and business considerations. Equity grants are included in most full‑time offers; benefits are part of the total compensation package. Healthcare Benefits
US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. UK & AUS Roles: Full cost of medical insurance premiums covered for you and your dependents. IE Roles: Annual contribution toward private health insurance for you and your dependents. Additional Benefits
Income Protection: Life and disability insurance for all employees. Generous Time Off: Competitive PTO, holiday hiatus in December, caregiver & wellness leave. Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments, adoption, and gestational carriers. Mental Health Resources: 24/7 free mental health resources, therapy, and coaching; additional support services available. Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development. Commuter Benefits: Company‑funded commuter benefits based on your region. 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. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about specific compensation and benefit details during the hiring process. Interested in building your career at Anduril Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
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