Senior Flight Software Engineer

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · Tactical Recon & Strike

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company developing AI-powered operating systems and advanced technology for military capabilities. This role focuses on developing flight computer vehicle software for small drones, including embedded software, device drivers, control systems, and test automation. The position requires experience in flight control software, embedded Linux/RTOS, and safety-critical systems, with opportunities to shape scalable flight software and mentor junior engineers.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design and implement vehicle control systems.
  2. Develop embedded software for pre-emptible Linux or RTOS applications.
  3. Develop device drivers, protocols, and APIs for aircraft sensors.
  4. Integrate new features and sensors into flight controller software.
  5. Integrate guidance and control algorithms with the flight software stack.

Skills

Required

  • 4+ years of C++ or Rust programming experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience
  • Direct experience with embedded software or other safety-critical systems
  • Background in low-level embedded software architecture, design and development
  • Low-level device driver development experience; familiarity with both microcontrollers and application processors
  • Comfortable with typical embedded systems tools, compilers, debuggers, and IDEs
  • Familiarity with communications busses and protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI, QSPI, I2C, Ethernet, etc.
  • Strong debugging skills, comfortable using instrumentation such as oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Nice to have

  • 6+ years of C++ or Rust programming experience creating clean, efficient, and reliable code
  • Strong vehicle systems and avionics design knowledge
  • Experience building flight stacks or working with PX4/ArduPilot or proprietary autopilots
  • Familiarity with control systems, state estimation, and guidance algorithms
  • Bias toward delivery and rapid iteration to discover the right engineering investments
  • Willingness to take calculated risks and full accountability for outcomes
  • Passion for solving real-world problems quickly and effectively
  • Track record of designing, building, and delivering useful software to users — we want to hear war stories!
  • Experience with SITL/HITL frameworks, CI for embedded systems, and creating reproducible test environments

What the JD emphasized

  • safety-critical systems
  • low-level embedded software architecture, design and development
  • Low-level device driver development experience
  • flight test results
  • operational aircraft deployments and field troubleshooting
  • designing, building, and delivering useful software to users