Chief Engineer

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. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead the design, development, and technical integration for a product line of critical network capabilities. This role is not just about leading; it's about re-envisioning the technical future of secure, resilient, and high-bandwidth communication for all of Anduril and the DoW’s autonomous platforms and integrated defense solutions. A successful candidate will not only have a strong technical background, but must also possess a vision for leadership that embraces Anduril’s mission to disrupt the defense technology ecosystem across technical and programmatic domains.

As Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end technical success and architectural coherence of complex, multi-disciplinary network systems. You will operate at the intersection of complex engineering challenges in embedded systems, networking protocols, mechanical integration, and strategic program execution. You will work directly with our most senior technical leaders, program managers, and customers to define, build, and deliver cutting-edge networking capabilities that impact national security.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Technical Vision & Architecture: Own and define the comprehensive technical architecture, design principles, and engineering roadmap for complex, distributed network systems. Ensure technical consistency, scalability, performance, and cyber-resilience across all technical domains (embedded software, UI/UX design, network protocols, hardware integration, ruggedized mechanical designs).
• System Integrity & Risk Management: Serve as the ultimate technical arbiter, ensuring the integrity, reliability, security, and survivability of our network systems in contested and high security environments. Proactively identify and mitigate technical risks related to performance, security, and physical robustness.
• Engineering Leadership & Mentorship: Provide decisive technical leadership and guidance to large, multi-disciplinary engineering teams (Mechanical, Electrical, Software) to deliver high quality products that can be manufactured at scale. Foster a culture of technical excellence, rigorous design, rapid iteration, and continuous improvement, ensuring seamless collaboration across disciplines.
• Strategic Technical Guidance: Translate strategic objectives and customer needs into actionable technical requirements and solutions. Drive trade studies, technology selections, and critical design decisions related to network topology, protocol selection, embedded hardware integration, power management, thermal management, and software-defined networking.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary technical interface with internal stakeholders (Product, Program Management, Executive Leadership) and external stakeholders (customers, partners, regulatory bodies), clearly articulating complex technical concepts, challenges, and solutions for network capabilities.
• Rapid Prototyping, Fielding, and Scaled Production: Drive aggressive timelines for design, development, integration, and testing of network systems, supporting rapid prototyping, fielding, and scaled production of operational capabilities for defense applications.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 15+ years of progressive experience in complex network systems engineering, R&D, and product development, with a significant portion in a leadership or Chief Engineer capacity for multi-disciplinary systems.
• Deep and broad technical expertise across network system design and implementation, encompassing significant experience in at least two of the following areas, with a strong understanding of the others:
  • Software Engineering: Network protocols (e.g., IP, routing, transport layer), distributed systems, embedded networking, real-time operating systems, cybersecurity for networks, data link layer implementation.
  • Electrical Engineering: Digital communications, power systems for ruggedized network nodes, high-speed digital design for embedded processors, PCB design for communication systems.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Ruggedized enclosure design, thermal management for radios and processors, vibration/shock mitigation, integration of network hardware onto various platforms (airborne, ground, maritime, soldier-worn).
  • Cross-disciplinary systems integration experience, particularly bridging the gap between hardware and software for robust network performance in demanding environments.
• Proven ability to define, architect, and lead the development of highly complex, integrated network systems from concept through deployment and sustainment.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of building, mentoring, and inspiring high-performing multi-disciplinary technical teams in fast-paced, challenging environments.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic technical planning, roadmapping, and managing technical debt while delivering on aggressive schedules for networking products.
• Strong problem-solving acumen, with the ability to break down highly ambiguous technical challenges related to network performance and resilience, and drive to practical, innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including executives, customers, and technical teams across different engineering disciplines.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field. Master's or Ph.D. preferred.
• Minimum Secret Security Clearance required. (Active TS/SCI strongly preferred).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Background in cybersecurity for network infrastructure and resilience against near-peer nation state cyber risks.
• Experience with network modeling, simulation, and analysis tools for predicting performance in diverse environments.
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical decisions involving significant financial and programmatic impact for network system development.
• Familiarity with military communication standards and requirements (e.g., Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concepts).

US Salary Range

$219,000—$290,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: 

Healthcare Benefits 

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. 
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. 
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

 

Additional Benefits 

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. 
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. 
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. 
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. 
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development 
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. 
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

 

Retirement Savings Plan 

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. 
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. 
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

 

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 

Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams

Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.

To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:

• No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.

• Please always verify communications:

  • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
  • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.

   

• Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.

• What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.