Senior Explosives System Safety Engineer

About the Team

The Explosive Engineering & Operations Team designs, tests, and fields complex munitions systems across multiple Anduril platforms — taking them from early prototype through full-rate production. This is hands-on, high-stakes ordnance work at the cutting edge of what's possible in defense technology.

About the Role

We're looking for a senior system safety engineer to own Anduril's munitions, warhead, and fuzing certification efforts end to end. You'll be the person who shepherds our programs through WSERB, FISTRP, and SSSTRP — building lasting relationships with the review entities and making sure we get through the process as fast and as thoroughly as possible.

This isn't just an individual contributor role. Dave Veitch, the hiring manager, is looking for someone who can lead and grow a team of 3–10 safety engineers while staying deep in the technical work. You'll set the standard for how Anduril approaches weapons safety certification — creating frameworks that scale across future programs.

What You'll Do

• Lead Anduril's munitions, warhead, and fuzing certification programs through DoD weapons safety review boards (WSERB, FISTRP, SSSTRP), building strong relationships with the review entities
• Build and lead a team of 3–10 system safety engineers — hiring, mentoring, setting technical direction, and driving professional development
• Create, review, manage, and present safety documentation packages to internal stakeholders, customers, and fuze/safety boards
• Partner with engineering, program management, and operations teams to embed safety practices into the product development lifecycle from day one
• Plan and drive testing, analysis, and review milestones — taking a proactive approach to minimize certification timelines
• Own root cause analysis and corrective actions relevant to the safety review process
• Manage project deliverables including requirements documentation, change control, traceability, and reliability matrices
• Create scalable frameworks and establish precedent for government reviews and system certifications across future Anduril programs
• Flow down safety guidance and manage key vendors (ESAD, warhead, etc.) as needed

Required Qualifications

• BS or higher in mechanical, systems, aerospace, or another engineering discipline
• 8+ years of experience in design, safety, certification, and systems engineering of ordnance systems
• 2+ years of experience leading, managing, or technically directing a team of engineers
• Warhead/fuze review board experience (WSERB, FISTRP, AFSRB, or equivalent)
• Munitions system certification or qualification experience
• Deep working knowledge of MIL-STD-882E, MIL-STD-1316, and MIL-STD-1901
• Experience in program management, customer and vendor management, and managing schedules and budgets
• Ability to travel for testing and customer meetings (surges up to 25%)
• Experience preparing formal safety documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — you'll be presenting to safety boards, collaborating across engineering and ops, and managing external stakeholders
• Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• In this role, you will be subject to pre-employment and randomized substance screening, as required by the Company.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. security clearance (DoD Secret, Top Secret, or DOE L/Q)
• Prior experience qualifying ordnance/munitions through multiple branches of the DoW
• Established relationships with key members of the DoW System Safety qualification boards
• Experience managing vendors providing services in support of safety qualifications
• Track record of building or scaling a safety engineering function in a fast-paced or growth-stage environment
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and establishing team processes, standards, and playbooks