Lead Research 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 TEAM
The Air Dominance & Strike team at Anduril develops aerial and multi-domain robotic systems. The team is responsible for taking products like Fury (unmanned fighter jet) and Barracuda (air-breathing cruise missile) from concept to product. The team also develops Lattice for Mission Autonomy, Anduril's premier software platform that enables masses of Fury, Barracuda, and other first and third party robots to collaborate across various missions. We work in close coordination with specialist teams like Perception, Motion Planning, Hardware, and Test Engineering to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers and roboticists excited about creating a powerful autonomy software stack that includes computer vision, motion planning, SLAM, controls, estimation, and secure communications.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a Research Engineer to drive innovations in autonomous vehicle technology using deep learning and reinforcement learning. In this dynamic role, you will design state-of-the-art algorithms and systems that enable safe, efficient, and intelligent autonomous driving. You'll work at the intersection of simulation, perception, and decision-making to push the boundaries of what's possible in autonomous mobility.
What You'll Do
Develop Advanced Algorithms:
Design and implement deep learning and reinforcement learning algorithms to improve sensor perception, prediction, and decision-making for autonomous vehicles.
End-to-End System Integration:
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate research prototypes into robust, production-ready systems including simulation environments and real-world platforms.
Research & Experimentation:
Conduct research into reinforcement learning strategies and deep architectures, iterate on experimental designs, and evaluate performance using rigorous quantitative metrics.
Data-Driven Innovation:
Utilize real-world and synthetic data to enhance model robustness and generalization, leveraging scalable training pipelines on distributed systems.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Machine Learning, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proficiency in deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX).
• Experience as a Principal Investigator in a research-driven environment
• Solid experience with reinforcement learning methods and their application to autonomous systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with C/C++ is a plus.
• Demonstrated track record in developing and deploying ML models for complex systems.
• Experience with simulation or real-world validation for autonomous vehicles is highly desirable.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in multi-modal sensor data processing (e.g., cameras, LiDAR, radar).
• Prior contributions to the research community, including publications or open-source projects.
• Familiarity with ML Ops best practices, including model versioning and reproducible research pipelines.

US Salary Range $198,000-$342,000 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!
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