SEIT Lead, Thunder
Anduril · Costa Mesa, United States · 2d 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 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. The team in London builds the Mission System and the autonomy that makes aircraft like Thunder work.
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 Systems Engineering, Integration and Test (SEIT) Lead to join the Thunder team at our Costa Mesa HQ. You will work on new aircraft and mission system development, including propulsion systems, avionics, batteries, mechanisms, structures, sensors and payloads, in a lean, high-ownership culture where you directly shape the product and operate at a velocity to fly new designs within months, not years.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Deploy right-sized, Agile Systems Engineering governance approaches for rapid capability development efforts - with the right amount of process discipline and artifacts and support System Design Reviews (SDRs)
- Lead the use of ‘Test’ as a design tool to support component, system and subsystem maturation from discrete bench tests to production representative Vehicle, Mission and Support Systems
- Work with customers and end-users to evolve Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and the Product Life Cycle, developing inputs to high-level requirements informing key design decisions
- Develop and sustain highly representative Hardware In Lab (HIL) and Hardware In The Loop (HITL) physical integration environments – capable of ‘flying’ missions, as well as full-size geometry representative section demonstrators for payload development
- Focus on the safety of integration environments, ensuring that potential harm of team members can be eliminated by design
- Leverage crewed and uncrewed flying assets as surrogates for subsystem development in the representative environment
- Develop, review, and execute right-sized test plans across integration environments, efficiently capturing and reporting learnings, and making recommendations as inputs to design
- Conduct Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and assess and mitigate hazards to ensure that testing can be safely and efficiently executed
- Support factory acceptance, ground and flight test of prototype and production representative Systems
- Liaise with partner organizations and local authorities to secure operational approvals (airspace, frequency, physical deconfliction, safety, and appropriate test range facilities)
- Conduct safety assessments with a pragmatic understanding of hazards and mitigations - holding the safety of team members above all else
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering or aviation related technical discipline
- 10+ years experience in Systems Engineering, integration and test
- Experience in developing and operating HIL/HITL/IRON BIRD integration environments for flight vehicles
- Vehicle/System level integration and test experience, preferably with Group 4/5 uncrewed and autonomous platforms, including ground and flight test
- Experience in all facets of the test process including writing test plans and procedures, conducting risk assessments, mitigating hazards, running test readiness reviews, directing test events, and responding to unplanned occurrences
- Extremely organized and detail-oriented, excellent verbal & written communication skills (effective for broad audiences)
- A sincere commitment to a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture
- Eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance in United States
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Proven track record of leading SEIT efforts for a clean-sheet aircraft program from early architecture and bench testing through IRON BIRD commissioning, first flight, and envelope expansion
- Specific experience integrating and testing complex rotorcraft dynamic systems, hybrid/electric powertrains, or high-performance Group 4/5 tactical UAS.
- Hands-on experience architecting full-vehicle IRON BIRD or system integration labs (SIL) featuring closed-loop dynamic models, real-time sensor injection, and automated regression testing
- Demonstrated background planning and executing risk-reduction flight tests utilizing airborne surrogate platforms (crewed or uncrewed testbeds)
- Experience establishing formal ground/flight test safety protocols, hazard analyses (MIL-STD-882), and supporting military or civil flight clearance releases (e.g., MIL-STD-516C, NAVAIR, or US Army Airworthiness).
- Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance
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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