Senior Flight Test Engineer, Space Systems

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

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company developing advanced military systems. This role is for a Senior Flight Test Engineer focused on developmental testing of subsonic to hypersonic systems. The engineer will plan, coordinate, execute, and report on test programs, collaborate with management and engineering teams, lead test teams, and ensure safe operations. The role involves working with rocket-launched systems, flight safety systems, and potentially new test facilities. While the company mentions AI and related technologies in its overall mission, this specific role is focused on flight test engineering for hardware and software systems, not direct AI/ML model development or deployment.

What you'd actually do

  1. Collaborate with program management on rocket-launched (subsonic and supersonic) systems proposals, strategies, and test and evaluation solutions to meet program objectives.
  2. Work with program management, test leads, and engineering department leads to develop requirements, communicate test schedules and progress, establish test gates and milestones, and discuss test results.
  3. Lead a team to plan and execute full system-level T&E of hardware and software, focusing on resource planning, ground and flight testing, issue investigation, and process improvement.
  4. Serve as the lead test engineer for R&D rocket-launched systems, including development, certification, and integration testing of subsystems.
  5. Engage with civil and government certifying agencies to obtain necessary operational authorizations.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
  • 7 to 10+ years of experience as program lead or test director for rocket-launched systems or developmental weapon systems.
  • Extensive experience in SRM flight testing, guided SRM missile development, stage separation systems design and testing, and MRTFB operations and procedures.
  • Expertise in developing Flight Safety Systems (FSS) compliant with MRTFB, RCC, and FAA standards.
  • Experience as an MRTFB Range User.
  • Knowledge of Flight Termination System (FTS) integration.
  • Experience with surrogate booster motor integration.
  • Strong understanding of vehicle, payload, and ground safety equipment requirements.
  • Familiarity with adjacent missile technology programs and funding opportunities.
  • Experience with system engineering or DoD program processes (EVM, MIL-STD-881, etc.).
  • Working knowledge of military standards (MIL-STD-8591, MIL-STD-2088, MIL-STD-1553, MIL-STD-1760, AS8775, AS5653, etc.).
  • Experience integrating and conducting tests with ground or ship-based launch systems.
  • Familiarity with military missile system airworthiness certification standards and processes.
  • Ability to manage complex test schedules and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong computer and documentation skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Willingness to travel for test planning and execution and work extended hours as needed.
  • Proactive problem-solving attitude.

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
  • Knowledge of High-Power Rocketry standards (14 CFR part 101, NFPA 1127).
  • High power rocketry certifications 1, 2 or 3
  • Prior experience in Supersonic / Hypersonic Vehicle design and flight testing
  • Prior experience in solid or liquid rocket propellent engine/booster testing
  • Prior experience with software code/script building using programming languages such as Go, Java, C++, Python, JavaScript, etc.
  • Prior experience using a flight simulation to support flight safety analysis including debris pattern propagation, instantaneous impact point (IIP)
  • Familiarization with Flight simulation and live telemetry visualization tools such as SIMDIS
  • Prior experience with Linux based systems and command line.
  • Working Knowledge with COTs Small UAS

What the JD emphasized

  • 7 to 10+ years of experience as program lead or test director for rocket-launched systems or developmental weapon systems, including requirements development, initial prototype builds, test planning, execution, and reporting.
  • Extensive experience in SRM flight testing, guided SRM missile development, stage separation systems design and testing, and MRTFB operations and procedures.
  • Expertise in developing Flight Safety Systems (FSS) compliant with MRTFB, RCC, and FAA standards.
  • Experience as an MRTFB Range User, including adherence to local range safety requirements, analysis, simulation studies, and documentation submission.
  • Familiarity with military missile system airworthiness certification standards and processes (ADS-45-HDBK, Seek Eagle, NNMSB, etc.).