Lead Scientist, Discovery

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology.

The Discovery team at Anduril is at the forefront of incubating and maturing high-potential, software-defined, AI-native offerings that meet the toughest, newest challenges across hardware, software, space, and cyber domains.

Anduril is seeking a Lead Scientist to help shape and grow cross-business opportunities at the intersection of counter-UAS, tactical networking, autonomy, sensing, command-and-control, and advanced technology development.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior technical lead for cross-business growth initiatives involving cUAS, networking, autonomy, sensing, C2, and advanced mission systems.
• Identify, shape, and mature new opportunities across Anduril business lines, working closely with product, engineering, strategy, capture, and customer-facing teams.
• Develop technical concepts, architectures, white papers, briefings, and demonstrations that connect customer mission needs to Anduril capabilities.
• Engage with senior government, military, and industry stakeholders to understand operational gaps and translate them into actionable technical and programmatic strategies.
• Lead early-stage technical solutioning for new business pursuits, including system architecture, integration approach, CONOPS, experimentation plans, and technical differentiation.
• Help define and mature advanced technology roadmaps in areas such as distributed sensing, autonomous defense, mesh networking, resilient communications, electronic warfare, and counter-UAS defeat chains.
• Support live demonstrations, exercises, experiments, and customer engagements that prove capability in operationally relevant environments.
• Work across Anduril teams to combine existing products and emerging technologies into integrated mission solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for proposals, capture activities, strategic campaigns, and new program formation.
• Mentor engineers, technologists, and program teams on mission architecture, customer problem framing, and technical strategy.

Required Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience in advanced technology development, defense systems, applied research, mission engineering, product development, or technical program leadership.
• Deep technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: counter-UAS, tactical networking, resilient communications, autonomous systems, sensors, command-and-control, electronic warfare, distributed systems, or advanced defense technology.
• Demonstrated ability to move from ambiguous mission needs to executable technical concepts, architectures, prototypes, demonstrations, or programs.
• Experience working directly with defense, intelligence, homeland security, or national security customers.
• Strong understanding of operational mission threads, system integration, and how sensors, networks, autonomy, decision systems, and effectors come together in real-world environments.
• Ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly to senior technical, operational, and executive audiences.
• Experience supporting business development, capture, proposals, customer shaping, technology roadmaps, or new program creation.
• Demonstrated ability to work across organizations and influence teams without relying solely on direct authority.
• Must hold an active U.S. TS/SCI clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, robotics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience leading advanced R&D, prototyping, experimentation, or transition of technology into operational programs.
• Experience with cUAS kill chains, air defense, integrated sensing, RF systems, EW, kinetic/non-kinetic defeat, or autonomous intercept concepts.
• Experience with tactical networks, mesh communications, datalinks, edge compute, distributed C2, or resilient mission connectivity.
• Experience developing concepts across multiple Anduril-relevant domains, including air, land, maritime, space, cyber, and homeland defense.
• Prior experience as a principal investigator, chief engineer, lead scientist, technical director, DARPA performer, service lab lead, or senior technical capture lead.