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Chief Engineer, FQ-44 Fury

Anduril· Air Dominance & Strike : Autonomous Airpower Engineering : Chief Engineering
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Costa Mesa, CA$254k - $336kFull-timePosted 7mo ago

About the role

Chief Engineer role responsible for technical execution of the Fury unmanned fighter, leading a multi-disciplinary team through detailed design, prototype fabrication, and a comprehensive flight test program to mature Fury from proven design to flight-proven production readiness.

Responsibilities

  • Own Technical Execution: Serve as technical authority for the Fury platform, leading a multi-disciplinary team (aerodynamics, structures, GNC, propulsion, avionics, software) through detailed design, integration, and verification.
  • Oversee Prototype Development: Direct fabrication and assembly of prototype and development articles, resolving complex engineering challenges that emerge during the build process.
  • Lead the Flight Test Campaign: Plan and execute a comprehensive test program—from ground test and SIL/HIL integration through developmental flight test—validating performance and expanding the operational envelope.
  • Drive System Architecture: Guide critical design trades, subsystem optimization, and interface management to ensure a cohesive, high-performance air vehicle architecture.
  • Ensure Airworthiness: Serve as technical authority for system safety, partnering with test teams to develop the data and artifacts required for military flight release authorization.
  • Solve Complex Problems: Act as the lead technical problem-solver, driving root cause analysis and implement effective solutions for issues discovered during integration and test.
  • Enable Production: Partner with manufacturing engineering to ensure production-readiness (DFM/DFA) and execute a clean transition to low-rate production.
  • Support Field Operations: Deploy to customers and test sites to support critical flight test and demonstration activities.

Qualifications

  • Proven experience as a Chief Engineer, IPT Lead, or senior technical leader on a complete air vehicle development program.
  • Deep, hands-on leadership of multi-disciplinary teams through at least one major phase of aircraft EMD (detailed design, prototype build, or flight test).
  • Demonstrated success taking complex aircraft systems from design through build and into successful flight test.
  • Strong technical foundation across multiple aircraft disciplines (aerodynamics, structures, GNC, propulsion, systems integration).
  • Direct experience with developmental flight test, including test planning, risk management, and data-driven decision making.
  • Deep understanding of the first principles behind vehicle and systems design.
  • Background on mission-critical DoD or advanced development aircraft programs.
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering discipline.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Skills

Required:Technical leadershipSystem architecture and tradesDevelopmental flight testAirworthiness

Benefits

  • Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full-time offers; top-tier benefits for full-time employees (health, recovery, and related support).
  • Salary range: US$254,000—US$336,000 per year (base salary; equity and broader compensation package included).
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Anduril

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