Mission Autonomy Lead - Thunder
Anduril IndustriesBase Salary
$220k - $292k/yr
Responsibilities
- Own the autonomy software architecture covering planning, execution, perception, and mission debrief.
- Design mission-planning systems and mission-execution software for autonomous aviation operations.
- Develop perception systems that sense and interpret the vehicle’s environment.
- Build mission-debrief capabilities for post-mission analysis and continuous improvement.
- Build and maintain software development infrastructure, including simulation and SITL/HITL capabilities.
- Define autonomy-stack interfaces with the vehicle management system using MOSA principles.
- Manage autonomy deliverables across development phases, including SysML models and requirements traceability.
- Provide technical mentorship to software and systems engineers.
- Develop test and simulation fixtures for autonomy validation.
- Represent the autonomy subsystem in technical and customer meetings and coordinate integration with Mission Systems and Vehicle Systems.
- Travel up to 25% to test sites and customer locations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
- 8+ years of experience in autonomous systems, robotics, or AI/ML.
- Experience delivering software through full product development cycles.
- Demonstrated experience with autonomous navigation, planning, or perception systems.
- Experience with modeling, simulation, and SITL/HITL testing.
- Experience developing safety-critical or high-assurance software.
- Proficiency in C++ and/or Python for real-time and mission-critical software systems.
- Experience with Linux-based embedded or real-time operating systems.
- Experience with version control and CI/CD tooling such as Git, Jenkins, or GitLab CI.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
- Preferred experience with autonomous aviation systems, including UAS, UAV, or manned-unmanned teaming.
- Preferred knowledge of behavior trees, mission-planning frameworks, computer vision, EO/IR sensor processing, airborne perception, distributed architectures, edge computing, MOSA/WOSA, MBSE, and digital engineering.
- Preferred familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, aviation simulation environments, real-time middleware, cross-compilation, NVIDIA Jetson, static analysis, formal verification, and MISRA C++ or DO-178C-adjacent practices.
Benefits
- Full-time employees receive comprehensive competitive benefits available at little to no cost.
- The role is based at the Costa Mesa, California office.
- The position includes up to 25% travel to test sites and customer locations.
- Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers.
About Anduril Industries
Anduril is not a traditional defense contractor. We are shaping the future of defense, transforming US & allied military capabilities with advanced technology. We emphasize speed and results and control our products from start to finish, including funding R&D to selling finished products off the shelf. Today, Anduril is in a rapid growth phase, deploying technology in diverse locations and developing path-making products that will change defense forever. We believe that everyone at Anduril can be a catalyst. Your perspective can change lives, and we want to help you make your mark. Our team includes thinkers and doers working interdependently. We bring the brightest minds and best-in-class talent together with veterans who have lived the problems of our warfighters. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in the real world, we want you at Anduril. With offices in Orange County, Washington DC, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, London, and Sydney, our reach is wide. Check out our careers page at https://www.anduril.com/careers or send us an email at careers@anduril.com.