Senior Flight Test Engineer

About the role

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. The Test and Evaluation team ensures every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability through system‑level development testing, production acceptance testing, software validation testing, and more. This position seeks a highly motivated flight test engineer focused on software/hardware capability development and evaluation for the Altius UAS platform, a Group 2/3 autonomous vehicle specializing in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The engineer will evaluate software and hardware capabilities for operational suitability and integrate Altius into Anduril’s full suite of systems for complex operations.

Responsibilities

• Support and plan test events at required test sites, including configuration management of test‑owned assets (hardware components, payloads, software/firmware configurations) and fleet management (maintenance tracking, asset assignment for current and future testing).
• Generate evaluation test plans and reports that focus on system functionality and the suitability of software‑hardware integration, incorporating safety risk assessments, hazard mitigations, and logistical considerations such as hardware availability, airspace, personnel resources, and scheduling.
• Create and execute test cards, conduct pre‑ and post‑flight briefings, and manage test events with diverse support teams (pilots, engineering SMEs, operations).
• Operate the Altius platform during system evaluation testing.
• Collaborate with SMEs and cross‑functional teams throughout development and production testing, reporting findings, adjudicating testing tasks, characterizing issues, and detailing results.
• Interface daily with hardware and software engineering teams.
• Collect and analyze metrics for flight test events, including sortie information and delays.
• Work extended hours and travel as required for planning and testing.
• Subject to pre‑employment and randomized substance screening as required by the company.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
• Ability to quickly understand new concepts, organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases, and determine appropriate approaches to solve complex problems.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; proactive in strengthening communication channels within the team and with external engineering, program leadership, and operations.
• Methodical, thorough, and detail‑oriented.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, performing complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Willingness to learn new skills and concepts.
• Current or ability to acquire FAA 14 CFR Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems certification.
• Current or ability to acquire FAA 14 CFR Part 61 certification (Pilots, Flight Instructors, Ground Instructors – ground test complete is the only requirement).
• Previous experience or working knowledge of National Airspace and UAS operating guidelines and regulations.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Ability to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Subject to pre‑employment and randomized substance screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong software and documentation experience; familiarity with Linux‑based operating systems, networking, SSH, and command‑line tools.
• 5–6 years of flight test engineering or system‑level testing experience.
• Knowledge and experience with Group 2/3 fixed‑wing systems.
• Experience working on Department of Defense (DoD) programs.

Pay

US Salary Range: $126,000 — $167,000 USD. The range is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors and includes base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on work experience, education, critical skills, and business considerations.

Benefits

• Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full‑time offers, considered part of total compensation.
• Top‑tier benefits for full‑time employees, covering health, recovery, and additional support services (see “Explore Our Benefits”).