Chief Engineer, Advanced Effects

About this role

Lead the technical strategy and execution of advanced unmanned aircraft systems at Anduril, from conceptual design through flight test, production, and field operations. You'll command multi-disciplinary engineering teams while making critical trade-offs between performance, schedule, cost, and risk on mission-critical defense programs.

What you'll do

• Own end-to-end technical and programmatic execution of air vehicle systems from concept through sustainment
• Establish technical vision, assemble expert teams, and drive strategic direction on complex system optimization challenges
• Manage detailed design of systems and subsystems including requirements, trades, optimization, and risk management
• Coordinate fabrication of prototypes and low-rate production articles with associated test efforts
• Support remotely deployed operations and troubleshoot field issues
• Collaborate with Business Development and senior leadership on resource planning and capability gaps

What they're looking for

• Unmanned aircraft systems design (Group 3 and above)
• Aerospace or mechanical engineering expertise
• Program leadership from concept through delivery
• Systems engineering and optimization under constraints
• DOD acquisition and mission-critical systems experience
• Multi-disciplinary team leadership and stakeholder management
• Requirements development and risk management
• Flight test and field operations support

Benefits

• Salary range: $220,000–$292,000 USD
• Competitive equity grants included in most offers
• Opportunity to impact warfighter capability with cutting-edge autonomy and AI technology
• Leadership role on critical defense programs
• Exposure to innovative 21st-century defense technology and business model
• Collaboration with senior technical and business teams

Likely interview questions

• Walk us through a Group 3+ unmanned aircraft program you led from concept to customer delivery—what were the key technical and programmatic decisions that made the difference?
• Describe a time when you had to make a strategic trade-off between performance, schedule, and cost on a defense program. How did you approach it and what was the outcome?