below marketmost similar roles pay hereabove market
This role pays more than
85%
of similar roles. Most pay
$152,000–$209,843
— the blue band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$222k
versus about
$181k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 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
916 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$166,000–$220,000
across 872 roles with salary data.
JOB TITLE: Staff Systems Engineer - Payload Lead
The Staff Systems Engineer - Payload Lead joins the Maneuver Dominance team to lead the payloads portfolio for Thunder, an autonomous attack rotorcraft. This role involves leading multiple integration teams to manage the architecture, roadmap, and execution of weapon and payload systems. Key responsibilities include driving cross-team interface consistency in electrical, structural, mechanical, software, and datalink domains, while managing staffing, hiring, and external supplier relationships. The position requires expertise in MIL STD 1553 and MIL STD 1760 interfaces, air-to-air weapons, and tactical datalinks. Candidates should be proficient in MOSA/WOSA open architecture standards and potentially use tools like SysML, Cameo, Jama, NX, or Solidworks. The work addresses the technical challenge of integrating sensors and weapons into a compact airframe operating in contested electromagnetic spectrums.
Own the overall payloads architecture and roadmap for all weapon and payload systems on the Thunder platform.
Lead multiple payload integration teams and manage staffing, hiring, and resource allocation across the organization.
Drive cross-team interface consistency in electrical, structural, mechanical, software, and datalink domains.
Manage product execution by prioritizing workstreams, tracking delivery, and managing cross-team dependencies.
Serve as the primary technical relationship owner for customers, contractors, and external weapon and payload suppliers.
Align payload capabilities and interfaces with vehicle management and mission autonomy software.
Drive modular, open architecture standards (MOSA/WOSA) to enable rapid reconfiguration and multi-weapon compatibility.
Own the safe separation and airworthiness certification strategy across the payload portfolio.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline with the required years of progressive engineering experience and people leadership.
Demonstrated experience leading multiple engineering teams or a multi-team organization.
Hands-on background with MIL STD 1553 and/or MIL STD 1760 interfaces.
Experience integrating weapons, payloads, or avionics onto aircraft.
Experience with weapon or tactical datalinks.
Experience owning staffing, hiring, and resourcing decisions for an engineering organization.
Experience managing customer, contractor, and supplier relationships on integration programs, including commercial and technical scope.
U.S. Person status (citizenship or lawful permanent residency) required for ITAR and export controlled work.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret clearance.
Experience leading weaponization or special mission unit platform conversion programs (preferred).
Familiarity with air to ground weapon systems, Air Launched Effects, and laser target designation systems (preferred).
Software programming or embedded systems experience in C++, MATLAB, Python, or PERL scripting (preferred).
Experience owning safe separation and airworthiness certification strategy at a program level (preferred).
Working knowledge of MOSA/WOSA open architecture standards and their application across multi-team portfolios (preferred).
Familiarity with MBSE tooling and digital engineering practices such as SysML, Cameo, or Jama (preferred).
Experience in NX/Teamcenter or Solidworks (preferred).
Understanding of manufacturing methods including machining, sheet metal, composites, 3D printing, and injection molding (preferred).
Track record building and scaling engineering teams in a fast-paced defense program environment (preferred).