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
The Maneuver Dominance team is building Thunder - an autonomous attack rotorcraft built to fight alongside crewed combat aviation to deliver overwhelming mass effects deep beyond the front lines.
Autonomy is only as good as the link that carries it. Thunder is a compact airframe with weapons, sensors and radios competing for the same antenna real estate, flying low and in formation, in a spectrum that is actively contested. That is the problem you would own.
ABOUT THE JOB
Anduril is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer - Payload Lead to join the Maneuver Dominance team at our Costa Mesa HQ. As the Staff Systems Engineer, Payload Lead, you will own the payloads portfolio across the Thunder platform, leading multiple payload and weapon integration teams and driving cross team architecture, interfaces, and product execution. Work closely with the Mission Systems Lead and Mission Autonomy Lead to align payload capability with vehicle and mission software, and serve as the primary technical relationship owner with external weapon and payload suppliers and integration partners. Own staffing, prioritization, and delivery across the payloads org. This is a unique opportunity to grow your expertise in one of the most challenging and differing engineering domains; large autonomous air vehicles.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Own the overall payloads architecture and roadmap across all weapon and payload systems integrated onto the platform
Lead and grow multiple payload integration teams, each responsible for a specific weapon or payload module
Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules across the payloads portfolio
Drive cross team interface consistency in electrical (1553/1760), structural and mechanical, software, and datalink domains across all payload teams
Own staffing plans, hiring, and resource allocation across the payloads organization
Own product execution across payload workstreams, including prioritization, roadmap, delivery tracking, and cross team dependency management
Partner closely with the Mission Systems Lead and Mission Autonomy Lead to align payload capability, interfaces, and timelines with vehicle management and autonomy software
Serve as primary technical relationship owner with customers, contractors, and external weapon and payload suppliers, covering commercial terms, technical scope, and delivery commitments
Own or delegate stores management system (SMS) and fire control architecture standards applied consistently across payload modules
Drive modular, open architecture standards (MOSA/WOSA) across the payloads portfolio to enable rapid reconfiguration and multi weapon compatibility
Own safe separation and airworthiness certification strategy across the payload portfolio, coordinating with flight test and certification authorities
Own requirements generation, Interface Control Documents, Software Requirement Specifications, and Performance Specifications standards across payload teams
Support ongoing operation and sustainment of fielded weapon systems
Support proposals and white papers for future payload efforts or capabilities
Represent the payloads organization in program level technical reviews, customer engagements, and executive reviews
Escalate and resolve cross team technical and resourcing…