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Staff Systems Engineer - Payload Lead

Anduril· Maritime & Maneuver Dominance : Maneuver Dominance Engineering : Systems Engineering
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Costa Mesa, CA$191k - $253kFull-timePosted 4w ago

About the role

Anduril Industries is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer, Payload Lead to own the payloads portfolio across the Thunder autonomous platform, lead multiple payload and weapon integration teams, drive cross-team architecture and product execution, and manage external suppliers and partners.

Responsibilities

  • Own the overall payloads architecture and roadmap across all weapon and payload systems integrated onto the platform
  • Lead and grow multiple payload integration teams, each responsible for a specific weapon or payload module
  • Develop program plans, estimates, and schedules across the payloads portfolio
  • Drive cross team interface consistency in electrical (1553/1760), structural and mechanical, software, and datalink domains across all payload teams
  • Own staffing plans, hiring, and resource allocation across the payloads organization
  • Own product execution across payload workstreams, including prioritization, roadmap, delivery tracking, and cross team dependency management
  • Partner closely with the Mission Systems Lead and Mission Autonomy Lead to align payload capability, interfaces, and timelines with vehicle management and autonomy software
  • Serve as primary technical relationship owner with customers, contractors, and external weapon and payload suppliers, covering commercial terms, technical scope, and delivery commitments
  • Own or delegate stores management system (SMS) and fire control architecture standards applied consistently across payload modules
  • Drive modular, open architecture standards (MOSA/WOSA) across the payloads portfolio to enable rapid reconfiguration and multi weapon compatibility
  • Own safe separation and airworthiness certification strategy across the payload portfolio, coordinating with flight test and certification authorities
  • Own requirements generation, Interface Control Documents, Software Requirement Specifications, and Performance Specifications standards across payload teams
  • Support ongoing operation and sustainment of fielded weapon systems
  • Support proposals and white papers for future payload efforts or capabilities
  • Represent the payloads organization in program level technical reviews, customer engagements, and executive reviews
  • Escalate and resolve cross team technical and resourcing conflicts across payload workstreams, including conflicting design and development requirements
  • Travel up to 25% to test sites, integration facilities, and partner locations

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline with progressive engineering experience (11+ years with BA, 9+ with MS, or 7+ with PhD) including people leadership
  • Demonstrated experience leading multiple engineering teams or a multi-team organization
  • Hands on background with MIL STD 1553 and/or MIL STD 1760 interfaces
  • Familiarity with air to air weapons and logical Interface Control Documents
  • Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft
  • Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks
  • Experience owning staffing, hiring, and resourcing decisions for an engineering organization
  • Experience managing customer, contractor, and supplier relationships on integration programs, including commercial and technical scope
  • Customer-focused with ability to formulate and implement plans to resolve technical engineering problems
  • Ability to travel to support program and test events (up to 25%)
  • U.S. Person status required for ITAR and export controlled work
  • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance

Skills

Required:Payload architecture and roadmapPayload team leadershipProgram planning and schedulingElectrical/interface standards (1553/1760)Staffing and resource managementInterface Control Documents / RequirementsCustomer, contractor, supplier relationship management

Benefits

  • Comprehensive, competitive benefits package available to full-time employees
  • Equity grants frequently offered as part of total compensation
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Anduril

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