Software Engineer - Payload Integrations

Anduril • Costa Mesa, CA

2d

About The Position

The Payload Integrations team builds software and interfaces that connect mission hardware—including gimbals, EO/IR sensors, arming and fuzing devices, weapons payloads, radios, and other hardware—to autonomous vehicles. Its work spans lab development, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and live flight in demanding operational environments.

The Software Engineer designs, builds, and maintains software integrations for sensors, communications systems, and mission payloads. The role works closely with hardware, electrical, autonomy, and systems engineering teams, as well as external payload vendors, to turn new hardware into dependable, well-tested vehicle components. It involves defining reusable interfaces, developing device drivers and protocol handlers, leading lab hardware bring-up, building simulation and test infrastructure, and supporting ground and flight testing. The role also contributes to safety-critical software for arming and weapons-related payloads, with rigorous review and testing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of professional software development experience focused on embedded systems, robotics, or hardware integration.
• Strong experience with Rust and/or C++, plus working proficiency in Python.
• Hands-on experience integrating hardware over common interfaces and protocols such as UART/RS-422, CAN, Ethernet/UDP, SPI, or I2C.
• Experience reading datasheets and ICDs and translating them into robust software implementations.
• Comfort debugging at the hardware/software boundary using lab equipment and bus or packet analysis.
• Experience developing on Linux-based systems.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, including working with external vendors and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience integrating gimbals, cameras, EO/IR sensors, or tactical radios and datalinks.
• Familiarity with safety-critical or arming/fuzing systems and related development practices.
• Experience with UAS, missiles, or other aerospace or defense platforms.
• Experience building HIL/SITL test environments or hardware emulators.
• Familiarity with middleware and serialization frameworks such as Protobuf, gRPC, DDS, or MAVLink.
• Experience with embedded Linux, real-time systems, or resource-constrained environments.
• Background supporting field integration and flight test campaigns.
• Active U.S. security clearance, or the ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software integrations for gimbals, EO/IR sensors, radios, arming and fuzing devices, and other mission payloads on autonomous vehicles.
• Define and maintain clean, reusable interfaces between payloads and the vehicle software stack so new payloads can be integrated without changes to autonomy code.
• Review vendor interface control documents (ICDs), implement device drivers and protocol handlers, and lead hardware bring-up in the lab.
• Build simulation, emulation, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test infrastructure to evaluate payload behavior before flight.
• Support integration events, ground tests, and flight tests, and root-cause issues across software, firmware, and hardware boundaries.
• Partner with program teams to scope, estimate, and deliver payload integrations for customer projects on tight timelines.
• Contribute to safety-critical software behind arming and weapons-related payloads, with rigorous review and testing.

Benefits

• Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of total compensation.
• Top-tier benefits for full-time employees, described as a comprehensive, competitive package available at little to no cost to employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level