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Salary: USD 132,000 - 198,000 / annual
Anduril Industries is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to lead the technical architecture and integration of next-generation counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) engagement systems. This role sits at the intersection of precision optics, computer vision, embedded compute, electro-mechanical actuation, laser subsystems, and kinetic effector integration—building mission-critical warfighter-portable anti-UAV systems.
You will serve as the technical authority and "glue" across multiple engineering domains, translating warfighter needs into coherent system architectures. Key responsibilities include:
**Systems Architecture & Innovation:**
- Establish technical authority spanning optics, computer vision, actuation, laser subsystems, embedded compute, and counter-UAS effector integration
- Lead cross-functional integration between mechanical, electrical, firmware, computer vision, and manufacturing teams
- Challenge traditional counter-UAS approaches through first-principles thinking to create more robust, adaptable solutions
- Translate critical warfighter needs into technical specifications that outperform legacy systems
- Create systems architecture diagrams bridging mechanical, electrical, optical, and software interfaces
**Technical Leadership & Execution:**
- Own critical product decisions, balancing tradeoffs between accuracy, latency, power, size/weight/power (SWaP), and ruggedization
- Define and manage system-level error budgets across optics, mechanical tolerances, calibration, computer vision algorithms, and actuator control to meet first-round-hit accuracy requirements
- Lead rigorous design reviews from requirements definition through verification and validation
- Own technical risk management ensuring systems meet military standards (shock, vibration, environmental, EMI) without sacrificing innovation
- Identify and eliminate development bottlenecks to accelerate delivery
- Own verification and validation plans including lab, benchtop, and live-engagement test campaigns against representative UAS threats
**Documentation & Digital Transformation:**
- Revolutionize systems documentation using modern tools (Flow, Jama, Cameo, MBSE, Digital Twins) to visualize architectures and model system performance
- Create technical narratives communicating complex ideas to engineers, leadership, stakeholders, and end users
- Build digital infrastructure enabling rapid iteration and continuous improvement
- Develop user documentation enabling warfighters to autonomously operate and sustain products in the field
**Field Engagement:**
- Travel to field exercises and customer events to teach users and gather feedback for stronger technical designs
- Support live-engagement assessments and operational evaluations alongside end users
**Required Qualifications:**
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or equivalent technical discipline
- 8+ years of systems engineering experience, preferably in rapid product development environments
- Track record delivering complex multi-domain electro-mechanical systems spanning optics, sensors, actuators, embedded compute, and software
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver against aggressive schedules
- Hands-on prototyping, troubleshooting, and integration experience across CAD, lab bench, and field test
- Experience owning verification and validation across full product lifecycle including environmental qualification (shock, vibration, thermal, sealing)
- Demonstrated willingness to challenge status quo and drive first-principles solutions
- Strong technical intuition paired with excellent communication skills
- Comfortable making decisions with imperfect information and adapting as new data emerges
- Experience with modern systems engineering tools and methodologies (MBSE, requirements management, digital engineering)
- Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities
**Preferred Qualifications:**
- Experience with counter-UAS systems, air defense, precision tracking, fire control, or kinetic effector systems
- Multi-domain product experience spanning electro-optics, lasers, actuators/servo control, or stabilized platforms
- Background in robotics or autonomous systems (e.g., Boston Dynamics, automotive AV, industrial robotics)
- Familiarity with computer vision pipelines (detection, tracking, calibration, pose estimation) and embedded platform integration
- Experience with embedded compute platforms (Qualcomm Snapdragon, NVIDIA Jetson) and SWaP tradeoffs
- Experience with system error budgeting across optical, mechanical, and algorithmic contributors
- Experience bridging prototype-to-production transitions including DFM/DFA and medium-volume manufacturing (100s–1000s of units)
- Prior experience as technical SME or IPT lead on complex DoD program
- Active DoD security clearance (Secret or above) or ability to obtain one
