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Payload Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Anduril Industries

Payload Lead

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE JOB You will own payload integration within Mission Systems for a maritime autonomous vehicle, owning integration of Anduril and third-party payloads from concept through deployment.

Anduril Industries

Payload Lead

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$191K - $253K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB You will own payload integration within Mission Systems for a maritime autonomous vehicle, owning integration of Anduril and third-party payloads from concept through deployment.

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' unmanned surface vessels ...

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' unmanned surface vessels ...

Seasats

Payload Integration Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

Payload Integration Engineer Location: San Diego, CA (in-office) Salary: $95,000 - $130,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits Role Overview: Seasats' unmanned surface vessels ...

Stratolaunch

Payload Systems Engineer

Mojave, CA

Collaborates with the payload's integration and test engineers, test team responsible engineers, payloads program leadership, and payload customers to define and implement vehicle payloads ...

Figma

Solutions Consultant, Payload

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

As a Solutions Consultant supporting Payload accounts, you'll partner with Sales and cross-functional teams to craft and deliver consultative strategies that showcase Payload's value within Figma.

Boeing

Senior Payload Design Engineer

Seal Beach, CA · On-site

$135K - $182K/yr

Senior Payload Design Engineer Company: The Boeing Company Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) is seeking a Senior Payload Design Engineer (Level 4) to support our Out-of-Production (OoP) Payloads ...

Stratolaunch

Payload Systems Engineer

Mojave, CA · On-site

Collaborates with the payload's integration and test engineers, test team responsible engineers, payloads program leadership, and payload customers to define and implement vehicle payloads ...

Boeing

Senior Payload Design Engineer

Seal Beach, CA · On-site

$135K - $182K/yr

Senior Payload Design Engineer Company: The Boeing Company Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) is seeking a Senior Payload Design Engineer (Level 4) to support our Out-of-Production (OoP) Payloads ...

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Payload information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a payload specialist?

To thrive as a Payload Specialist, you typically need a background in engineering, physics, or a related science field, often supported by a relevant degree and experience with aerospace systems. Familiarity with mission planning software, payload integration tools, and systems such as MATLAB or LabVIEW is common, along with certifications like ITAR compliance when required. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for managing complex payload operations. These abilities ensure safe, reliable, and mission-optimized payload deployment in high-stakes aerospace environments.

What does a payload operator do?

A payload operator is responsible for managing and deploying payloads in aerospace, military, or drone operations. They handle the loading, release, and control of equipment or cargo during missions, often using specialized tools and adhering to safety protocols. This role requires technical skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of relevant safety standards.

What is a payload specialist?

Payload specialists are experts selected to manage and operate specific scientific or technical equipment on space missions, often aboard spacecraft such as the Space Shuttle or International Space Station. They are typically responsible for the preparation, execution, and monitoring of experiments or cargo during a mission. Payload specialists can come from scientific, engineering, or industry backgrounds and are chosen for their expertise related to the mission's payload. Their role is distinct from that of career astronauts, as they focus primarily on the payload rather than the overall operation of the spacecraft.

What are some common challenges faced by payload specialists when working on multidisciplinary teams in aerospace projects?

Payload Specialists often collaborate with engineers, scientists, and project managers, which requires clear communication and adaptability to different technical perspectives. A common challenge is ensuring that payload requirements are integrated smoothly with other subsystems, often under tight deadlines and shifting project priorities. Successful Payload Specialists proactively coordinate with other teams, anticipate integration issues, and remain flexible to accommodate late-stage design changes. This environment fosters strong problem-solving skills and can provide excellent opportunities for professional growth within multidisciplinary aerospace teams.

What is the difference between Payload vs Data Analyst?

AspectPayloadData Analyst
Required CredentialsTypically no specific certifications, but knowledge of logistics and transportationBachelor's degree in statistics, data science, or related field
Work EnvironmentLogistics, transportation, or delivery settingsOffice-based, data analysis, reporting, and visualization tasks
Employer & Industry UsageLogistics companies, courier services, transportation firmsCorporations, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared in logistics contextsCompared in data management and analysis contexts

While Payload refers to the cargo or goods transported, Data Analyst focuses on interpreting data to inform business decisions. Both roles are essential in their industries but serve different functions—one in logistics and transportation, the other in data-driven insights.

What is payload and how does it work?

In the context of a payload specialist or related roles, payload refers to the cargo, instruments, or equipment carried by a vehicle such as a spacecraft, drone, or aircraft. The payload is designed to perform specific functions, and its deployment or operation is managed by the payload specialist or technician, often requiring knowledge of systems, safety protocols, and operational procedures. Understanding payload integration and handling is essential for ensuring mission success and safety.
What are the most commonly searched types of Payload jobs in California? The most popular types of Payload jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Payload jobs in California? For Payload jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Payload jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Payload jobs in California are:
Payload jobs near you
Infographic showing various Payload job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Payload Lead

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 22 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 75,130 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril's Maritime Division is responsible for planning and executing Anduril's product and revenue roadmap for maritime missions. Working across product, engineering, business development, logistics, and operations, the Maritime team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril maritime capabilities in a challenging operational environment worldwide. As a leader in the Maritime Division, you must be a technical leader with the expertise to evaluate, qualify, manage, and advocate for an increasing number of sophisticated parallel pursuits. This role is crucial in ensuring that each initiative aligns with the company's strategic direction and receives the appropriate resourcing, balancing innovation with practical execution to drive the business line's success.

ABOUT THE JOB

You will own payload integration within Mission Systems for a maritime autonomous vehicle, owning integration of Anduril and third-party payloads from concept through deployment. Reporting to the Mission Systems Lead, you will own payload interfaces, interoperability, mission development, and reference mission kits. You will ensure payloads meet customer mission requirements and integrate with the vehicle platform and autonomy stack.
Your spectrum of support will be diverse in nature and require you to leverage your technical expertise as well as leadership skills to set objectives, build cross-functional teams, and rapidly drive to completion. The ability to leverage your intuition and prior experience will be key in making sure the right design, analysis, and test steps are completed to ensure success. The ideal candidate will leverage their experience executing and successfully completing prior highly optimized multi-disciplinary projects.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Own payload architecture: mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces for all mission payloads
  • Drive integration of Anduril payloads and government-furnished equipment onto the platform
  • Drive interoperability standards for payload modularity across vehicle configurations
  • Develop reference mission kits that package payloads with autonomy behaviors for specific mission sets
  • Define payload interface requirements and work with Vehicle Systems on accommodation
  • Manage payload integration schedule and cost across prototype and production phases
  • Coordinate with third-party vendors on payload qualification and integration
  • Provide technical mentorship to engineers across payload disciplines
  • Support testing and field deployment of payload systems
  • Represent the payload subsystem in technical and customer meetings
  • Interface with Mission Systems Lead and autonomy team on mission system integration
  • Travel up to 25% to test sites, vendor facilities, and customer locations
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent
  • 5+ years of experience in payload integration, weapons systems, or mission systems
  • Experience delivering payload integration in defense or aerospace environments
  • Demonstrated experience with sensor integration, weapons systems, or C4ISR payloads
  • Experience with the full product delivery lifecycle: design, test, manufacturing, deployment
  • Deep understanding of military mission sets and payload capabilities
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience with maritime or undersea payload systems
  • Working knowledge of payload certification and weapons safety (MIL-STD-882E)
  • Experience with autonomous systems payload integration
  • Familiarity with modular open systems architecture (MOSA)
  • Prior Navy or defense operational experience

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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