Senior Software Engineer, Vehicle Management Systems (Flight Software)

Anduril Industries
Costa Mesa, CA

ABOUT THE TEAM


The Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) software team, which is part of Anduril's Tactical Recon and Strike (TRS) division, develops flight computer vehicle software for small drones (Group 1–3).

Are you passionate about avionics and flight software? Join us in refining the foundation for a common Vehicle Management System (VMS) that can be used across Group 1–3 UAVs. The team is enhancing the current Altius VMS to support modularity, clean abstractions, and faster new-aircraft development cycles—laying the groundwork for scalable, reusable flight software across the TRS product line.

The right person for this role has experience in flight control software and embedded Linux or RTOS development. Joining early means you’ll directly shape how we scale—both in the volume of drones we build and the breadth of missions they can fly. Our engineers move quickly from simulation to flight and thrive on solving real-world problems that matter.

ABOUT THE ROLE


As a Senior Software Engineer, Vehicle Management Systems, you will be responsible for developing the embedded software that powers Anduril’s aircraft while working alongside a team of engineers with a diverse set of backgrounds and skills. Anduril has a collaborative culture with plenty of opportunities for ownership. As an early member of the team, your decisions today will have a large impact on the company now and into the future, as well as on our customers.

You’ll own sections of the flight stack end-to-end — from device drivers and middleware integration to control law implementation, test automation, and flight validation. Expect to work closely with GNC, hardware, manufacturing, and operations teams, lead technical design reviews, and mentor junior engineers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on real-world engineering constraints and wants to see the code they ship fly on mission-critical systems.

WHAT YOU’LL DO


  • Design and implement vehicle control systems.

  • Develop embedded software for pre-emptible Linux or RTOS applications.

  • Develop device drivers, protocols, and APIs for aircraft sensors.

  • Integrate new features and sensors into flight controller software.

  • Integrate guidance and control algorithms with the flight software stack.

  • Create Software-In-The-Loop (SITL) and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) test fixtures and automation.

  • Analyze flight test results and iterate quickly on fixes and improvements.

  • Support device manufacturing efforts, debugging, and production-level test.

  • Support operational aircraft deployments and field troubleshooting.

  • Mentor junior engineers and help improve team engineering practices and test infrastructure.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS


  • 4+ years of C++ or Rust programming experience.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience.

  • Direct experience with embedded software or other safety-critical systems.

  • Background in low-level embedded software architecture, design and development.

  • Low-level device driver development experience; familiarity with both microcontrollers and application processors.

  • Comfortable with typical embedded systems tools, compilers, debuggers, and IDEs.

  • Familiarity with communications busses and protocols such as CAN, CAN FD, UART/RS232/RS422/RS485, SPI, QSPI, I2C, Ethernet, etc.

  • Strong debugging skills, comfortable using instrumentation such as oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers.

  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS


  • 6+ years of C++ or Rust programming experience creating clean, efficient, and reliable code.

  • Strong vehicle systems and avionics design knowledge.

  • Experience building flight stacks or working with PX4/ArduPilot or proprietary autopilots.

  • Familiarity with control systems, state estimation, and guidance algorithms.

  • Bias toward delivery and rapid iteration to discover the right engineering investments.

  • Willingness to take calculated risks and full accountability for outcomes.

  • Passion for solving real-world problems quickly and effectively.

  • Track record of designing, building, and delivering useful software to users — we want to hear war stories!

  • Experience with SITL/HITL frameworks, CI for embedded systems, and creating reproducible test environments.

ANDURIL PRODUCTS

For more information on the latest with Anduril , visit our with articles such as " Anduril a year in review"and many more. Watch this short video showcasing our products at Anduril .

Check out some of the products you could be working on:

Barracuda
Altius
Ghost

US Salary Range

$191,000 - $253,000 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:

Healthcare Benefits


  • US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.

  • UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.

  • IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

Additional Benefits


  • Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.

  • Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.

  • Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.

  • Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.

  • Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development

  • Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.

  • Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

Retirement Savings Plan


  • US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.

  • UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.

  • AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.


Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams


Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.


To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:



  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.


  • Please always verify communications:

    • Direct from Anduril: Our recruiters will only email you from an @anduril.com address.

    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to [email protected] .



  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.



  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to [email protected] . Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.


Data Privacy


To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit .

Posted 2026-03-19

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