Forward Deployed Engineer, Air Defense (FDE)

Job Application for Forward Deployed Engineer, Air Defense (FDE) at Anduril Industries Forward Deployed Engineer, Air Defense (FDE) Costa Mesa, California, United States Apply Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years. ABOUT THE ROLE Anduril’s Deployment Operations group is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (internally know at Anduril as Technical Operations Engineer) to join our Air Defense team. This is a Costa Mesa based role and not eligible for remote/hybrid work. As a member of Anduril’s Technical Operations team, you will be responsible for deploying and supporting Anduril’s products all over the world. You will go forward with products early on in their lifecycle and work with engineering teams to iteratively improve them over time. The challenges you will encounter are innumerable and unpredictable, but you will be expected to take ownership of delivering the technical solution. You must be both a teacher and a student, able to coach teammates on systems that you’ve gained intimate familiarity with and then transition into mastering the next system. You’ll also guide users through product employment and troubleshooting, advise account managers on how to structure an operation to ensure technical success, and communicate specific recommendations for product refinement to engineering teams. WHAT YOU'LL DO Support military air defense projects by executing technical operations, conducting field maintenance, providing customer field support and training Tackle complex issues related to hardware, software, and networking in unstructured situations, driving them to resolution Communicate field issue status to internal and customer teams, keeping them informed. Support the development and implementation of comprehensive operational and logistical plans for various events Ensure high availability and performance of air defense systems Maintain support plans for hardware and software Assist in event planning and resource allocation, keeping key stakeholders informed about Technical Operations requirements Incident response root-cause analyses (RCAs) for defense systems in the field Conduct post-incident reviews and implement preventive measures Maintain up-to-date documentation REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 3+ years of experience of strong problem solving in unstructured environments at the interface of hardware, software, and networking. Ability to climb towers to install, maintain, and repair sensor equipment and components including cameras, radars, and Pan Tilt Units (PTU). Strong mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot and repair critical site infrastructure including generators, solar power systems, and hydraulic systems. Experience performing preventative maintenance on tower structure components including guy wires, anchors, lightning protection systems and other structural elements to ensure structural integrity and safety. Ability to meet health and medical requirements in advance of deployments in accordance with DFARS 252.225-7040 , DoDI 3020.41, and/or any additional requirements outlined by region or supporting force, as applicable. Ability to travel to remote regions of the world for up to two months at a time (up to 80% of the year). Ability to relocate, if not already local to be onsite in Costa Mesa, CA Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret/Secret clearance. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS B.S. in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer science, or related technical field Network+ and Linux+ or equivalent experience preferred. Prior tower climbing experience with relevant certifications (Tower Climbing, OSHA 10/30). Experience with Fiber and RF systems (PtP, PtMP, mesh), understanding basic antenna concepts & spectrum analysis. Terminating power cables with NEMA connectors or RJ45 connectors. Ability to lift 50-70 lbs. Experience operating specialized equipment including aerial lifts and forklifts. Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Ability to develop complex operational and logistics plans to move people and things quickly, over long distances, in unfamiliar locations. Prior military or overseas contracting experience. US Salary Range $113,000 - $155,000 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: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come 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. 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