Senior Electrical Engineer, Thunder Payload Integration
Anduril Industries
Costa Mesa, CA · $147k–$194k a year · Posted July 1, 2026
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Pay compared with the market
This listing pays about $170,500 a year. Across 128 open senior electrical engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $145,000 to $171,500 and the median is $157,500. That is inside the middle half of those listings, 8% above the median.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
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How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among electrical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for electrical engineers: 6% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Maneuver Dominance team is building Thunder - an autonomous attack rotorcraft built to fight alongside crewed combat aviation to deliver overwhelming mass effects deep beyond the front lines.
Autonomy is only as good as the link that carries it. Thunder is a compact airframe with weapons, sensors and radios competing for the same antenna real estate, flying low and in formation, in a spectrum that is actively contested. That is the problem you would own.
ABOUT THE JOB
Anduril is seeking a Senior Electrical Engineer to join the Thunder team at our Costa Mesa HQ. We need an Senior Electrical Engineer to own the payload power, data, and control electrical architecture — from the aircraft bus through the deployment mechanisms to the mission payloads — on this novel autonomous platform.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Own the payload electrical architecture — design power delivery, data, and control wiring from the aircraft bus to payload interfaces through deployment mechanisms
Design firing circuits and payload control electronics — arming/safing logic, continuity test interfaces, and ground-to-aircraft handoff protocols for mission-critical payloads
Define and implement the mission/vehicle management system (SMS/VMS) electrical interface for payload control — command, status, and safety interlock signals
Design harness routing through articulated deployment mechanisms — connector mate/de-mate logic and continuity assurance across all mechanism positions
Design ground support equipment (GSE) — bench simulators, continuity test sets, and arming/safing control stations to support integration and range operations
Perform EMC analysis for firing-circuit-class signals in a hybrid-electric airframe environment — identify HERO/HERP/HERF risks and define mitigation
Support lab verification of the payload electrical chain — bench test through simulated bus to payload connector before aircraft integration
Support on-aircraft integration and ground firing verification at range-cleared facilities
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
3–6 years in aerospace or defense electrical engineering with payload or weapons electrical systems experience
Firing circuit design — EED circuits, arming/safing logic, and safety analysis
Payload bus architecture — power, data, and control from aircraft bus to payload
Aerospace harness design, including wiring through dynamic or articulated environments
GSE design for payload integration support
EMC analysis for safety-critical circuits (HERO/HERP/HERF awareness)
Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
MIL-STD-1760 implementation experience
HERO/HERP/HERF electromagnetic hazard analysis
Payload electrical integration on rotorcraft or VTOL platforms
Hybrid-electric or high-voltage airframe EMC context
Range operations support experience
US Salary Range $147,000 — $194,000 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 .
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