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Defense Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Anduril Industries

Systems Engineer, Air Defense

Irvine, CA · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Working across product, engineering, sales, logistics, operations, and mission success, the Air Defense team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril Air Defense Family of Systems (FoS) in ...

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Defense Engineer information

See California salary details

$35.7K

$103K

$159.6K

How much do defense engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for defense engineer in California is $103,038.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,890.00 and $127,789.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a defense engineer?

Defense Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain technologies and systems used for national defense and security. Their work may include developing weapons, surveillance equipment, communications systems, and protective gear for military use. They often collaborate with government agencies and defense contractors to ensure that products meet stringent safety and performance standards. Defense Engineers apply principles from fields such as mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering to solve complex challenges related to defense technology.

How do defense engineers typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams during project development?

Defense Engineers frequently work alongside professionals from various disciplines, including software developers, systems analysts, project managers, and manufacturing specialists. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as complex defense projects require integrating multiple technologies and adhering to strict security protocols. Regular meetings, technical reviews, and cross-functional design sessions are common, ensuring that engineering solutions meet both technical requirements and regulatory standards. Being adaptable and open to feedback from different perspectives is key to success in this collaborative environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a defense engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Defense Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, problem-solving, and systems design, typically supported by a degree in engineering or a related field and security clearance. Familiarity with CAD software, modeling tools, and knowledge of defense industry standards or certifications like ITAR compliance is often required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for success in this role. These skills and qualities ensure the development of reliable, secure, and innovative defense systems that meet stringent safety and regulatory requirements.

What is the difference between Defense Engineer vs Systems Engineer?

AspectDefense EngineerSystems Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Security Clearances often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Systems or related fields
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government agencies, military projectsVarious industries including aerospace, IT, manufacturing
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily defense and military sectorsBroad industry use, including defense, tech, and aerospace
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for technical and security aspectsCompared for project management and system integration skills

Defense Engineers focus on designing and developing military and defense systems, often requiring security clearances and working within defense sectors. Systems Engineers have a broader role in integrating complex systems across various industries, including defense, but with less emphasis on security clearances. Both roles require engineering backgrounds but differ in industry focus and project scope.

How much do defense engineers get paid?

Defense engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $80,000 to $130,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in systems, cybersecurity, or missile defense can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually.

What are popular job titles related to Defense Engineer jobs in California?

For Defense Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Defense Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Defense Engineer jobs in California are:

Defense Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Defense Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,038 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Systems Engineer, Air Defense

Anduril Industries

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 76,770 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Air Defense team builds robots that find other robots and knock them out of the sky. At a time when air superiority can no longer be taken for granted, the Air Defense Team provides mission critical capabilities to warfighters. From detection to tracking, identification, deterrence, and defeat, our family of networked sensors and effectors enables our customers to rapidly close the kill chain against a broad range of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) threats. Working across product, engineering, sales, logistics, operations, and mission success, the Air Defense team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril Air Defense Family of Systems (FoS) in challenging operational environments worldwide.


ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking to hire a Systems Engineer to join our rapid growing team in Costa Mesa, CA. The Air Defense team has the most complex capability that Anduril has fielded to date. Each deployment often comes with a unique combination of hardware and software products in various configurations, targeting different mission sets, and optimized for different customer expectations. We need systems engineers who are capable of internalizing the nuances of each deployment and owning the technical success of the end-to-end solution we ship.


WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Lead the integration of emerging capabilities, bringing new products into the family of systems. This may include scoping and executing on a combination of hardware and software solutions, both internal and external to the company.
  • Lead requirements decomposition across cross-functional teams, defining success in the face of ambiguity.
  • Responsible for scoping ideal system laydown, scrutinizing system performance, and ensuring the deployed system is meeting customer requirements. Also responsible for making tradeoffs across capability, timelines, risk, cost, and other factors to deliver an outcome.
  • Own systems end to end with the ability to identify and solve problems between the seams and push through to reach an ultimate outcome.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 2-4 years of hardware and software systems engineering experience.
  • Degree in Engineering, Physics, Robotics, Mathematics, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated use of model based systems engineering in program lifecycle.
  • Experience with tools such as: JAMA, Cameo, Matlab, Simulink, AFSIM.
  • Experience with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, or Rust for analysis and simulation.
  • Skilled in Statistics, AI/ML, MBSE, Requirements.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in the application of engineering standards into engineering processes or requirements.
  • Demonstrated experience collaborating across cross-functional teams.
  • Comfortable working with ambiguity, evolving priorities, and challenging problems.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States.
  • Up to 25% travel to customer sites.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Familiarity with Linux OS. Comfortable obtaining data from software platforms using command-line tools.
  • Previous experience in a defense, naval, or aerospace environment.
  • Experience with any of the following: robotics, autonomous systems, radar, optics, computer vision, wireless communication, software defined radios, networking.
  • Exceptional proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB for data parsing and data visualization.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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