Staff Payload Integration Engineer, Omen
Anduril · Costa Mesa, United States · 6mo 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.
The Maneuver Dominance team at Anduril develops operationally relevant, multi-asset autonomy. Omen is Anduril’s hover-to-cruise autonomous air vehicle (AAV) that packs the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of much larger airplanes into a novel runway-independent Group 3 platform. Omen can operate from ship decks, beaches, or remote island clearings, providing true runway independence and freedom of maneuver across defense and civilian domains. Omen is the first tail-sitter aircraft with a mass-production contract, with an order of 50 systems representing a decisive investment that anchors production and accelerates the development of future systems.
ABOUT THE JOB
As a Staff Payload Integration Engineer on the Omen Group 3 program, you will own the mechanical integration of mission payloads into a modular UAS airframe; designing the structural mounts, interfaces, and quick-swap mechanisms that let operators reconfigure the aircraft for different missions in the field. You'll work at the intersection of structures, manufacturing, and systems engineering to deliver payload bays that are lightweight, robust, and easy to service. If you love solving the puzzle of how things fit together on an aircraft and want to see your hardware fly, this role is for you.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Own the mechanical integration of mission payloads into the Omen Group 3 airframe, from early concept trades through flight-ready hardware
- Design and iterate on primary and secondary structural interfaces: mounts, rails, adapters, and retention mechanisms that allow payloads to be installed, removed, and swapped rapidly in the field
- Develop and maintain a modular payload architecture that accommodates a range of sensor types, sizes, and weights while preserving structural integrity, CG limits, and aerodynamic performance
- Define payload interface control drawings (ICDs) covering mechanical mounting datums, fastener patterns, envelope constraints, access provisions, and load paths into the airframe
- Collaborate closely with the structures, mechanical, and payload mechatronics teams to ensure mounting solutions satisfy thermal, vibration, and alignment requirements driven by the sensors they house
- Balance competing constraints across payload capacity, structural mass, swap time, and production cost, making clear trade recommendations to program leadership
- Feed lessons learned back into ICDs, calibration procedures, and production assembly and acceptance test documentation
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- BS or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline
- 12+ years of experience in mechanical design and integration, with meaningful time spent on structural mounting, mechanisms, or payload/subsystem integration on aerospace or defense platforms
- Strong understanding of load paths, structural joints, and fastened connections in mixed composite and metallic assemblies
- Proficiency in CAD software (NX preferred; SolidWorks or equivalent acceptable) for detailed part and assembly modeling
- Ability to perform structural sizing via hand calculations and classical methods (bolt analysis, lug analysis, bearing/bypass, joint allowables)
- Working knowledge of FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or NASTRAN) sufficient to build and interpret local detail models for mounting hardware
- Hands-on experience with hardware integration, you have personally fit, shimmed, fastened, and troubleshot mechanical assemblies
- Familiarity with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and interface control documentation
- Strong collaboration skills and comfort working across structures, manufacturing, and avionics teams in a fast-paced development environment
- High ownership mentality and a bias toward action — willing to pick up a wrench, visit a vendor, or fly to a test site to keep things moving
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with Group 3+ UAS, UAV, or small aircraft payload integration specifically
- Background in designing modular or quick-change mechanical interfaces (rails, bayonet mounts, dovetails, kinematic couplings)
- Experience developing tooling, jigs, or fixtures for repeatable payload installation and alignment
- Familiarity with vibration isolation and shock mounting techniques for sensitive equipment
- Exposure to environmental qualification testing (MIL-STD-810) as it relates to mechanical mounting and retention
- Experience writing or contributing to Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across multiple engineering disciplines
- Demonstrated passion for aviation, aerospace, or unmanned systems through hands-on projects, certifications, or hobbies
- Experience with Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, or similar collegiate engineering competition teams
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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