Lead Engineer, Avionics Design

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Air Dominance and Strike (AD&S) Electrical Engineering Team is responsible for developing high-reliability avionics, embedded processing, and power systems for Group 5 air vehicles and missile platforms. Working across hardware, software, and mission autonomy, the team delivers flight-critical electronics, PCB assemblies, and FPGA-based processing architectures that enable Anduril's next-generation autonomous air platforms to operate in complex and contested environments. AD&S Electrical Engineers drive end-to-end development, from system architecture and circuit design to verification, integration, and flight test, ensuring scalable, mission-ready solutions that meet the performance, reliability, and survivability demands of the U.S. Military and modern air warfare.

ABOUT THE JOB 

We are looking for a Lead Engineer, Avionics Design to join our rapidly growing team in Costa Mesa, CA. In this role, you will be responsible for end-to-end avionics systems and subsystems development. You will also be leading a team of engineers, and establishing robust design, integration, testing, and validation processes. This will require expertise in PCB design, subsystem integration, process management, vendor coordination. If you are someone who has led teams supporting rapid avionics development, then this role is for you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead avionics system development from concept through production, ensuring seamless integration, reliability, and performance across Anduril's air systems.
• Manage and mentor a team of Electrical Engineers, driving technical execution and professional growth within the Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) Electrical Engineering team.
• Oversee full-cycle PCB and Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) development, guiding requirements derivation, schematic design, component selection, layout, board bring-up, and system integration, testing, and debugging.
• Architect and develop flight-critical avionics with an emphasis on high-reliability, resiliency, redundancy, and fault tolerance, collaborating cross-functionally to define product specifications and ensure mission success.
• Own design verification and integration of avionics subsystems, developing and executing Design Verification Testing (DVT), Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP), and Qualification Test Procedures (QTP).
• Drive system-level electrical integration for medium- to large-scale vehicle platforms, ensuring compliance with power distribution, signal integrity, and environmental constraints.
• Coordinate with fabrication and manufacturing partners, managing Bill of Materials (BOM), assembly processes, and supplier engagement to ensure high-quality production and delivery.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• 7+ years of experience designing, testing and troubleshooting complex board designs and avionics modules in a UAV or similar context.
• Proven leadership or management experience in guiding highly technical and motivated engineers
• Understanding of relevant avionics/electrical design standards for vehicles.
• Competence with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, thermal chambers, current-probes, and automation of tests.
• Experience in design for signal integrity / power integrity.
• Familiarity with standard interfaces such as Ethernet, CAN, I2C, SPI, PCIe, USB, Analog circuits, etc.
• Familiarity with common MCU, CPU, FPGA devices and technologies.
• Knowledge of modern analog and digital electronics and electronic circuits.
• Proficient with Altium Designer or equivalent electronic design automation design tool
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding and familiarity with DO-254, DO-178C, DO-160, DO-311A
• Understanding and familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-461
• Understanding system interconnect diagrams and defining cables and wire harnesses that connect electronic equipment within the vehicle.
• Support for software and firmware development related to flight controls, sensing, payload integration, power management, and networking.

US Salary Range

$170,000—$255,000 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:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: For U.S. roles, we offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
  • For UK roles, Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Anduril will cover the full cost of the insurance premium for an employee and dependents.
  • For AUS roles, Private health plan through Bupa: Coverage is fully subsidized by Anduril.
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Anduril, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well.
• A professional development stipend is available to all Andurilians.
• Daily Meals and Provisions: For many of our offices this means breakfast, lunch and fully stocked micro-kitchens.
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). (US roles only)

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.

Anduril is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Anduril team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!

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