Program Chief Engineer

Anduril Industries

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Irvine, CA
Salary: $129,000–$171,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $186k

This role $150k

$118k most similar roles pay here $232k

This role pays less than 74% of similar roles. Most pay $150,000–$221,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $150k versus about $186k for comparable roles.

Based on 239 similar postings.

Employer

About Anduril Industries

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that builds advanced hardware and software systems for national security, including autonomous drones, surveillance systems, and the Lattice AI command platform.

Anduril Industries currently has 1882 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $146,000–$194,000 across 1696 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at Anduril Industries

At a glance

TL;DR · Program Chief Engineer

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As a Program Chief Engineer at this leading technology firm, you will join a dynamic team focused on developing advanced autonomous systems and robotics solutions for critical defense and national security applications. Your primary responsibility is to act as the internal advocate for your client, ensuring that their needs are met through timely, high-quality engineering deliverables. You will bridge the gap between Engineering and Field Operations by managing complex technical requirements, translating them into actionable plans, and communicating effectively across all levels of technical expertise. This role requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in systems engineering or related fields, with proficiency in Atlassian tools such as Jira and Confluence for project management. Ideal candidates have experience in defense-related certifications like Link 16 or RMF, and a strong background in autonomous systems development.

Skills

Jira Confluence Link 16 JITC Certification IATT/ATO Risk Management Framework (RMF) AEGIS TOC-L THAAD Atlassian Systems Engineering Architecture Program Management Cyber Certification

What you'll do

Advocate for clients within the engineering team to ensure their best interests are met.
Bridge communication gaps between Engineering and Field Operations teams.
Prioritize must-have features over nice-to-haves by effectively saying "no" when necessary.
Anticipate potential roadblocks and develop strategies to mitigate them proactively.
Translate complex client requirements into executable engineering frameworks and plans.

What we're looking for

Minimum 5+ years experience in technical leadership roles like Lead Engineer or Technical Program Manager.
Proven client-facing program management and systems engineering experience in defense or aerospace domains.
Strong background in systems engineering and architecture with ability to interpret complex requirements.
Experience with Link 16, JITC Certification, Cyber Certification (IATT/ATO), or Risk Management Framework (RMF).
Proficiency with Atlassian products for task tracking and program management support.