Flight Test Engineer - Mission Autonomy

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · Hardware Platform : Hardware Test Operations : Test & Evaluation

The Flight Test Engineer will work on T&E test programs for mission autonomy capabilities, focusing on software interface and diagnostics. This role involves designing and executing test plans for autonomous systems, analyzing test data, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure product performance and reliability in defense applications.

What you'd actually do

  1. Coordinate, plan, and execute test events for mission autonomy capabilities utilizing surrogate vehicles
  2. Design and implement test plans that challenge and verify the capabilities of autonomous systems in a variety of simulated mission profiles.
  3. Analyze data from tests to validate system performance and identify areas for improvement
  4. Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, hardware engineers, and product managers, to define test requirements and ensure alignment with system capabilities and mission objectives.
  5. Drive end-to-end test management by shaping program requirements, designing comprehensive test plans, leading execution efforts, analyzing complex data, and delivering clear, concise reports to cross-functional and program teams.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, robotics, or a related technical field from an accredited institution, or equivalent experience in autonomous systems testing.
  • Minimum 1-3 years of in-depth T&E experience, preferably with autonomous systems
  • Demonstrated ability in developing and executing test plans for complex systems within aggressive timelines.
  • Proven experience coordinating and executing complex test events
  • Experience developing metrics and performance dashboards
  • Proven track record of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to achieve project milestones and deliverables.
  • Excellent communication skills, capable of effectively articulating technical challenges and solutions to a diverse audience.
  • Ability to engage and communicate with military and government customers
  • Willingness to work flexible hours and travel to various testing locations as required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret-Level security clearance.

Nice to have

  • Direct experience in the development, testing, and deployment of autonomy systems in a defense or aerospace context.
  • Familiarity with FAA, FCC, and other relevant regulations
  • Hands-on experience with simulation environments and tools used for testing autonomous systems.
  • Familiarity with software development practices and experience with programming languages used in autonomy and robotics (e.g., Python, C++, ROS).
  • Knowledge of current industry and military standards related to unmanned aerial systems and their operation within national airspace.

What the JD emphasized

  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret-Level security clearance.

Other signals

  • mission autonomy capabilities
  • autonomous systems
  • AI-powered operating system
  • autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion