Anduril Industries

Director of Advanced Design

Anduril Industries$254K — $336K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in aerospace systems design with leadership experience on Group 5 UAS or advanced missile systems.
  • Expertise in aerodynamics, structures, propulsion integration, or electrical systems.
  • In-depth knowledge of system architecture and product lifecycle development.
  • Experience leading high-performance engineering teams in dynamic environments.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills for technical leadership.

Responsibilities

  • Direct end-to-end design process for UAV and missile platforms.
  • Serve as a technical expert in early-phase pursuits and proposal development.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure alignment with customer needs.
  • Translate customer mission requirements into design concepts through direct interactions.
  • Make high-level technical decisions to guide effective design paths.
  • Align engineering execution with broader mission and capability goals in collaboration with Chief Engineers.
  • Incorporate emerging aerospace technologies into initial design stages.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package at little to no employee cost.
  • Health and recovery support.
  • Investments in employee development and well-being.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Director of Advanced Design for the Air Dominance & Strike hardware engineering organization. This role will oversee the conceptual design for Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced missile platforms. WHAT YOU'LL DO • Direct the end-to-end conceptual design process for UAV and missile platforms, including mission analysis, configuration trade studies, requirements development, and architecture selection. • Serve as a technical expert for early-phase pursuits, shaping concept white-papers, customer proposals, and technology roadmaps, partnering with the chief engineering team. • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with technical feasibility, affordability, and customer mission needs. • Support direct interactions with customers to translate mission requirements into design concepts. • Act as a senior technical decision-maker, applying engineering intuition and prior experience to ensure effective design paths and avoid costly development missteps. • Partner with Chief Engineers and product teams to align engineering execution with broader mission and capability goals. • Stay at the forefront of emerging aerospace technologies and threats, incorporating disruptive innovations into early-stage designs. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS • 10+ years of experience in conceptual or preliminary design of aerospace systems, with technical leadership roles on Group 5 UAS, similar class aircraft, or advanced missile systems. • Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the core aerospace hardware disciplines: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion integration, or electrical systems. • Deep understanding of system architecture, mission requirements, and full product lifecycle development. • Proven experience leading high-performance engineering teams, ideally in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. • Strong communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or related field. • Experience with rapid prototyping and iterative development environments. • Hands-on experience with advanced design tools, simulation, and test equipment. US Salary Range $254,000-$336,000 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: Benefits At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.

About Anduril Industries

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that develops advanced systems for the military. The company was founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, and Matt Grimm, and has since grown to become a major player in the defense industry. Anduril's products include autonomous drones, surveillance systems, and other advanced technologies that are designed to enhance military capabilities. The company has received significant funding from investors and has partnerships with several major defense contractors. Anduril is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Learn more about Anduril Industries
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2017

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