Senior Software Engineer, Drones

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
At Anduril's Tactical Recon and Strike (TRS) team, we're pushing the boundaries of aerial drone technology. We're the driving force behind groundbreaking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt, and Altius, taking them from concept to fully operational systems that are reshaping the landscape of defense and security. Our team tackles the entire spectrum of small drone development (Group 1-3), from the drones themselves to the critical equipment needed for testing, deployment, and operation. We thrive on solving complex challenges, collaborating with specialist teams to deliver cutting-edge solutions for our customers. In TRS, you'll be at the forefront of innovation, working with state-of-the-art technology and pushing the limits of what autonomous systems can achieve. If you're passionate about creating transformative technology and want to be part of a team that's shaping the future of defense capabilities, we want to hear from you. Join us in our quest to develop game-changing aerial systems that are redefining what's possible in tactical reconnaissance and strike operations.
ABOUT THE JOB
As a Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems integration, robotics, and networking, making critical engineering decisions that directly impact mission success. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring Anduril's products work seamlessly together to achieve a variety of crucial outcomes. You'll develop innovative solutions for complex robotics problems, balance pragmatic engineering trade-offs with mission-critical requirements, and collaborate across teams to integrate software with hardware systems. Contributing to the entire product lifecycle, from concept to deployment, you'll rapidly prototype and iterate on software solutions. We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and isn't afraid to tackle ambiguous problems. Your "Whatever It Takes" mindset will be key in executing tasks efficiently, scalably, and pragmatically, always keeping the mission at the forefront of your work. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on next-generation defense technology, working with state-of-the-art robotics and autonomous systems. You'll be part of a team that values innovation, quick iteration, and delivering high-quality solutions that meet real-world needs.
The Bolt software team combines all parts of the vehicle stack: hand controllers, devices and sensors, computer vision, state machines, and analysis. We are largely generalists given the small team size and are looking for software engineers keen on UAVs/robots with a motivation to develop for all components of the vehicle.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance. This position will be located at our headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA (relocation benefits provided.)
WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Own major feature development and rollout of large features for Bolt - recent examples include building out GPS denied capabilities, h265 support, and customer facing features like simulation tooling and self-service software updates
• Write and maintain core libraries (frame transformations, targeting and guidance, etc.) that all robotics platforms at Anduril will use
• Work closely with our hardware and manufacturing teams during product development, providing quick feedback that contributes to the final hardware design
• Contribute in our manufacturing process, ensuring that we have the software and tools in place to allow technicians to scale up vehicle bring-up and validation from logic boards to flight testing
• Participate in occasional flight tests and customer events, ensuring end-to-end testing and demonstration of software features along with new Bolt hardware revisions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BS in Robotics, Computer Science, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Proven understanding of data structures, algorithms, concurrency, and code optimization
• Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed software systems
• Experience working with and testing electrical and mechanical systems
• 3+ Years experience with C++ or Rust experience in a Linux development environment
• Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD Security Clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MS or PhD
• Experience in one or more of the following: motion planning, perception, localization, mapping, controls, and related system performance metrics.
• Rust and C++ experience
• Experience programming for embedded and physical devices
• Experience with infrastructure at large software organizations, build systems with CI/CD, and tooling such as Nix
• Complex frame transformation problems, such as target localization or multi degree of freedom robotic arms

US Salary Range $191,000-$253,000 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.

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