Staff Software Engineer, Ghost

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril’s Tactical Recon & Strike (TRS) is a division with two missions: 1) build highly capable autonomous drones, and 2) build solid rocket motors at scale. We transform products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt, and Altius from early concepts into fully operational capabilities by partnering closely with specialist engineering, operations, and production teams. Through our Anduril Rocket Motor Systems (RMS) team, we design and manufacture solid rocket motors using advanced materials, proprietary formulations, and high-volume production methods—delivering safe, reliable propulsion systems that support a wide range of mission requirements. TRS hires software engineers & hardware engineers, who are excited to build across a diverse and powerful portfolio—from autonomous aerial systems to high-performance solid rocket motors. Our teams contribute to highly capable autonomous robotics systems and propulsion products that operate reliably in the most demanding mission environment.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a Staff Robotics Software Engineer on our TRS team, you'll be at the forefront of cutting-edge autonomous systems development. You'll tackle diverse challenges in autonomy, systems integration, robotics, and networking, making critical engineering decisions that directly impact mission success. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring Anduril's products work seamlessly together to achieve a variety of crucial outcomes. You'll develop innovative solutions for complex robotics problems, balance pragmatic engineering trade-offs with mission-critical requirements, and collaborate across teams to integrate software with hardware systems. Contributing to the entire product lifecycle, from concept to deployment, you'll rapidly prototype and iterate on software solutions. We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and isn't afraid to tackle ambiguous problems. Your "Whatever It Takes" mindset will be key in executing tasks efficiently, scalably, and pragmatically, always keeping the mission at the forefront of your work. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on next-generation defense technology, working with state-of-the-art robotics and autonomous systems. You'll be part of a team that values innovation, quick iteration, and delivering high-quality solutions that meet real-world needs.

Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance. This position will be located at our headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA (relocation benefits provided.)

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Develop and maintain core robotics libraries, including frame transformations, targeting, and guidance systems, that will be utilized across all Anduril robotics platforms
• Lead the development and implementation of major features for our products, such as designing and building Software-in-the-Loop simulators for advanced systems like Anvil
• Optimize performance of existing products, including tasks like improving battery consumption and route planning for our Ghost helicopter
  • Ghost is the main platform where we regularly integrate new/unique robotics sensors and payloads.
• Collaborate closely with hardware and manufacturing teams throughout the product development lifecycle, providing timely feedback to influence and enhance final hardware designs
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues in deployed systems, ensuring optimal performance in the field
  • Our assets are the only ones in TRS designed to be non-attritable, so we place a special emphasis on product reliability over many usage cycles.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of multi-agent coordination systems for UAVs
• Participate in the full software development lifecycle, from concept and design through testing and deployment
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends, recommending and implementing innovations to improve our products and processes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or related field
• 7+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong proficiency in C++ or Rust, with experience in Linux development environments
• Demonstrated expertise in data structures, algorithms, concurrency, and code optimization
• Proven experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed software systems
• Hands-on experience working with and testing electrical and mechanical systems
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware and manufacturing
• Strong problem-solving skills and a "Whatever It Takes" mindset
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• Willingness to relocate to Costa Mesa, CA 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering)
• Expertise in one or more advanced robotics areas: motion planning, perception, localization, mapping, or controls
• Experience with performance optimization and metrics for complex robotic systems
• Proficiency in Python, Rust, and/or Go, in addition to C++
• Hands-on experience programming for embedded systems and physical devices
• Background in multi-agent coordination, particularly with UAVs
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex frame transformation problems (e.g., target localization, multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arms)
• Experience with real-time operating systems and distributed computing
• Familiarity with machine learning and AI applications in robotics
• Knowledge of sensor fusion techniques and implementation
• Understanding of aerodynamics and flight dynamics as applied to UAV systems
• Experience with simulation environments for robotics testing and development
• Track record of contributions to open-source robotics projects or relevant publications