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Salary: USD 166,000 - 220,000 / annual
Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to lead the design, integration, verification, and validation of a payload or weapon module for the Thunder autonomous attack rotorcraft platform. Thunder is a compact autonomous airframe competing in contested spectrum environments, requiring innovative solutions for antenna real estate, sensor integration, and weapons carriage.
You will directly lead or provide technical direction to a multidisciplinary team of 6–8 engineers spanning software, electrical, mechanical, and structural disciplines. This is a high-visibility leadership role that directly determines how versatile and mission-effective the aircraft platform will be in the field.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead integration, verification, and validation of assigned weapon or payload modules onto the Thunder platform
- Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules for the module
- Develop system and architecture designs, perform system-level analysis, and generate requirements
- Drive design and implementation of MIL STD 1553 and 1760 interfaces, structural mounts, and support systems (wiring, cooling, power)
- Own stores management system (SMS) and fire control logic, including arm, select, and release state machines and safety interlocks
- Own safe separation analysis and testing, covering trajectory clearance, jettison envelope, and captive carry and flight test support
- Run day-to-day agile execution for the team, including sprint planning, backlog management, and technical decision-making
- Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents, Software Requirement Specifications, Performance Specifications, and review test plans
- Support lab, ground, and flight test events
- Coordinate with the Payloads Lead on cross-module interface consistency and shared standards (MOSA/WOSA)
- Interface directly with customers, contractors, and external payload and weapon supplier engineering teams
- Drive development of module-specific test fixtures, bench setups, and SITL/HITL simulation environments
- Support ongoing operation of fielded weapon systems
- Provide hands-on technical mentorship to team engineers across disciplines
- Travel up to 25% to test sites and integration facilities
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in engineering, computer science, or related technical discipline, with progressive experience: 9+ years (Bachelor's), 7+ years (Master's), or 5+ years (PhD); equivalent engineering experience may substitute
- Software programming or embedded systems experience (C++, MATLAB, Python, PERL scripting, etc.)
- Familiarity with air-to-air weapons, MIL STD 1553, and logical Interface Control Documents
- Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft
- Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks
- Experience directly leading or technically directing a small multidisciplinary engineering team (software, electrical, mechanical)
- Experience designing or validating safety-critical state machines and interlock logic (arm and fire sequencing, consent-based release)
- Customer-focused with ability to formulate and implement plans to resolve technical engineering problems
- Ability to travel up to 25% to support program and test events
- U.S. Person status (citizenship or lawful permanent residency) required for ITAR and export-controlled work
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Direct hands-on experience integrating named weapon systems (e.g., Hellfire, Hydra 70), Air Launched Effects, or laser target designation systems
- Experience with weapon and store carriage structural design, including mounting, load analysis, and jettison and separation clearance
- Experience with safe separation analysis, captive carry testing, or flight test support for weapon release clearance
- Experience with stores management systems (SMS) or similar weapon interface controllers
- Familiarity with bus analyzers and test tooling for 1553/1760 (e.g., Astronics/Ballard, DDC)
- Experience on special mission unit or SOF platform weaponization and conversion programs
- Experience in NX/Teamcenter or Solidworks
- Experience designing mechanical parts and test equipment (CAD)
- Understanding of manufacturing methods (machining, sheet metal, composites, 3D printing, injection molding, composite lamination)
- Familiarity with MBSE tooling (SysML, Cameo, Jama, or similar)
