Flight Sciences Engineer

Company: Anduril Industries
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

ABOUT THE TEAM The Tactical Recon and Strike team at Anduril develops aerial small drones (Group 1-3) and all equipment to test, deploy and operate. The team is responsible for taking products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt and Altius from paper sketches to operational systems. We work in close coordination with specialist teams to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers. We are looking for software engineers, hardware engineers, roboticists, and front-end mobile developers who are excited about creating a powerful robotics platform that can be tasked and viewed in real-time through a variety of interfaces. The guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) team within TRS performs implementation, analysis, test, and validation for GNC software solutions supporting our autonomous drone fleet. Applications include attitude and position control, waypoint and terminal guidance engagements, and navigating contested environments including communication and GPS denied environments. ABOUT THE JOB This role will be responsible for guidance and control law development and validation, hardware and software in-the-loop test and analysis, and cutting edge navigation solutions supporting the entire range of drones within TRS. What You’ll Do Aerodynamic Design & Analysis: Aerodynamic design of fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid VTOL platforms at conceptual, preliminary, and detail design maturities aerodynamic analysis of unmanned air vehicles, using both low and high order methods, including analysis tool development and improvement as needed Conduct detailed analysis to predict and enhance aero performance. Utilize Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools and low-order methods for performance evaluation. Develop and maintain in-house suite of aerodynamic analysis tools. Evaluate impacts of configuration changes on performance of the aircraft. Flight Simulation Development: Design, implement, and maintain high-fidelity flight simulation models. Utilize simulation to evaluate aircraft performance and reliability. Validate simulation accuracy against wind tunnel and flight test results Testing: Work with Flight Test personnel to plan and execute tests to evaluate aircraft performance Plan and coordinate wind tunnel testing to gather aerodynamic data Analyze test data to identify performance trends and areas for improvement. Utilize flight test data to identify system bugs and failures Prepare technical reports and briefings to communicate findings with stakeholders. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field. 4 years applicable professional experience with airborne platforms 4 years of experience in aerodynamic design and analysis, flight simulation, and flight testing Hands-on experience with CFD tools, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent simulation platforms 4 years experience in programming and data analysis skills (MATLAB, C++, etc.) Strong understanding of aerodynamics and flight dynamics, stability, and control A passion for defending the Unites States of America and its allies US person status is required as this position requires access to export controlled information Preferred Qualifications PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field Experience with flight control design and analysis for fixed and rotary wing aircraft or missile systems C/C++ Expertise Experience with Simulink Embedded Coder US Salary Range $166,000 - $220,000 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. The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information. To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind: No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates. Please always verify communications: Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address. Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com . Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links. What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts. Data Privacy To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

Keywords: Anduril Industries, Lakewood , Flight Sciences Engineer, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California