Chief Engineers, Advanced Aircraft Programs

Anduril
Anduril

Full-time

Costa Mesa, CA, USA

USD 254k-336k / year + Equity

Posted 6+ months ago

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 Air Dominance and Strike (AD&S) Chief Engineering Team is the technical authority for our most critical programs. They are responsible for owning the technical baseline, leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams through rigorous development and flight test, and delivering revolutionary airborne systems that meet the mission. They are the ultimate problem-solvers, driving technical execution from architecture to operational demonstration.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is looking for strong technical leaders to spearhead the development of new capabilities for new customers. You will own the technical development from concept refinement through detailed design, build, flight test, and transition to production for a new aircraft concept. These projects require you to leverage your deep technical expertise and leadership skills to set objectives, build a team, and deliver real products on a rapid timeline, balancing risk and execution speed without being bound by unnecessary process. We have multiple Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer opportunities available across a range of advanced platforms.

We will work with exceptional candidates to find the best fit for their unique expertise.

THE LEADER OF LEADERS:

  • Chief Engineer, Next Gen Airpower - You will serve as the technical authority for a 5th or 6th generation multi-role platform, with a focus on integrating survivability and advanced mission systems into a next-generation air dominance solution.
  • Chief Engineer, High Speed - You will lead the development of a Mach 3+ air vehicle, leveraging deep expertise in high-speed aerodynamics, air-breathing or rocket propulsion, and the high-temperature materials required for extreme flight regimes.
  • Chief Engineer, Large Autonomous Aircraft - You will own the development of a large-scale autonomous aircraft (over 150,000 lbs GTOW), tackling the unique structural, aerodynamic, and endurance challenges of HALE or large-payload platforms.
  • Chief Engineer, Navy Airpower - You will own the technical development of a carrier-based autonomous aircraft, with a deep, proven emphasis on carrier suitability, naval aviation requirements, and the NAVAIR airworthiness process.
  • Chief Engineer, Conventional ISR - You will lead the full EMD of a Group 3+ ISR and/or strike platform, with a special emphasis on integrating the complex sensors, payloads, data links, and mission systems that define the aircraft's capability.
  • Chief Engineer, Next-Gen ISR- You will lead a low-observable ISR/strike program where "exquisite survivability" is the primary design driver, making the integrated trades between signature, performance, and mission systems
  • Chief Engineer, Advanced Development & Conceptual Design - You are a proven "builder" who can lead the hands-on prototyping and integration of a new, complex aerospace vehicle.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Proven "Cradle-to-Flight" Ownership: You have served as the Chief Engineer, Air Vehicle IPT Lead, or equivalent single point of technical authority on at least one clean-sheet or major-variant aircraft program, and you saw it through from the conceptual design phase to a successful flight test campaign.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Technical Authority: You have a demonstrated history of personally making and owning the integrated technical trades between at least three of the following core disciplines: Aerodynamics, Structures, Propulsion, GNC, or Systems Integration. You are not a career-long specialist in a single area.
  • EMD "Valley of Death" Experience: You have led a multi-disciplinary team through the chaos of a first-article build, integration, and ground test. You have personally dispositioned MRB tags, solved integration problems on the shop floor, and held "red-line authority" to keep the build moving.
  • "Builder" DNA: Your career shows a clear pattern of prioritizing hardware over slide decks. You have a healthy skepticism of analysis-paralysis and a demonstrated ability to make decisions with incomplete information to maintain schedule velocity.
  • First-Principles Knowledge: You possess a deep, intuitive understanding of the "why" behind aircraft design, rooted in a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (Aerospace, Mechanical preferred) or an equivalent track record of shipping complex hardware.
  • Clearance: You must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Direct Unmanned Combat/Tactical Aircraft Experience: You were a senior technical leader on a program like the MQ-25, X-47B, B-21, NGAD, CCA-class platforms, or other classified advanced UAS.
  • Prior experience with DoD technology development organizations (e.g., DARPA, AFRL) on advanced flight programs.
  • You have a background in an organization known for rapid, innovative, and successful aircraft development, such as Skunk Works, Phantom Works, Scaled Composites, or a high-performance startup environment.
  • Full Airworthiness & Certification Experience: You have not just supported, but have been a key leader in taking an aircraft through a full military or FAA type certification process, including direct engagement with authorities like NAVAIR or the FAA.
  • "Fly/No-Fly" Authority: You have been in the control room as the final engineering authority making the "go/no-go" decision for a first flight or a high-risk test point.
  • Customer & CONOPS Experience: You have worked directly with senior military customers (O-6, Flag Officer, or SES level) to define a new Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and translate it into a technical solution and a funded program.
  • Specific Domain Expertise (for specialized roles)
    • Navy: Deep, personal experience with carrier suitability, arrested landings, and NAVAIR standards.
    • Low Observable: A background where you were the technical authority for signature management (RCS/IR) and survivability trades.
    • High Speed: Proven leadership on a Mach 3+ program with expertise in aerothermal effects and advanced propulsion.
  • Active TS/SCI Clearance: You currently hold a high-level clearance, enabling you to engage on our most sensitive programs from day one.

Per Anduril's expansion plans, we anticipate these jobs will be based out of Long Beach, CA beginning late 2027.

US Salary Range
$253,000—$336,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

Benefits

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.

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