ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Slope

Systems Engineer, Air Vehicle Systems

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$146K - $194K/yr

The ideal candidate will have experience working with complex unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and ... Develop System Engineering artifacts, including system model, to trace from stakeholder inputs ...

Leidos

Systems Engineer

Escondido, CA · On-site

$82K - $149K/yr

... unmanned maritime vehicles for a rapid-paced, high-priority project. This is a high-impact ... Coordinate with NIWC Vehicle SMEs to review vehicle system data and address unforeseen technical ...

Leidos

Systems Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$82K - $149K/yr

... unmanned maritime vehicles for a rapid-paced, high-priority project. This is a high-impact ... Coordinate with NIWC Vehicle SMEs to review vehicle system data and address unforeseen technical ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsManufacturing JobsElectronics JobsUnmanned Vehicle System Engineer Jobs

Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer information

See salary details

$53.5K

$127.2K

$167K

How much do unmanned vehicle system engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for unmanned vehicle system engineer in the United States is $127,215.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an unmanned vehicle system engineer do?

An Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains vehicles that operate without direct human control, such as drones, autonomous cars, or underwater robots. They work on both the hardware and software aspects of these vehicles, ensuring their systems are safe, reliable, and effective for their intended applications. Their role often involves integrating sensors, communication systems, and control algorithms to enable autonomous operation. Unmanned Vehicle System Engineers may work in industries like defense, transportation, agriculture, or scientific research.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an unmanned vehicle system engineer?

To thrive as an Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering (typically aerospace, electrical, or mechanical), strong programming abilities, and experience with robotics or autonomous systems. Familiarity with software such as ROS (Robot Operating System), simulation tools, and embedded systems, along with relevant certifications like FAA Part 107 (for drones), is often required. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you collaborate effectively and adapt to rapidly evolving technologies. These skills are crucial for designing, integrating, and maintaining complex unmanned systems that operate safely and efficiently in various environments.

How does an unmanned vehicle system engineer typically collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in a project environment?

Unmanned Vehicle System Engineers frequently work alongside specialists in electronics, software development, mechanical engineering, and operations to design, test, and refine autonomous systems. Collaboration often involves regular meetings to align on project goals, integrating hardware and software components, and troubleshooting issues as a team. Effective communication is essential, as engineers must ensure that all subsystems work together seamlessly. This collaborative structure not only improves project outcomes but also provides opportunities to learn from other disciplines and contribute to innovative solutions.

What is the difference between Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer vs Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot?

AspectUnmanned Vehicle System EngineerUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in UAV systems or roboticsRemote pilot certification, FAA Part 107 license
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and test UAV systems in labs or field testing sitesOperate UAVs in real-time for surveillance, photography, or inspection
Industry UsageManufacturers, defense, research institutionsMedia, agriculture, inspection services

Unmanned Vehicle System Engineers focus on designing and developing UAV hardware and software, while UAV Pilots operate these vehicles in the field. Both roles are essential in the UAV industry but differ in responsibilities and required credentials.

What are popular job titles related to Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer jobs?

For Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Unmanned Vehicle System Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,215 per year, or $61.2 per hour.

Systems Engineer, Air Vehicle Systems

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about Anduril Industriesexternal

$146K - $194K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Shape customer needs into air vehicle and subsystem requirements in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

  • Develop System Engineering artifacts, including system models, to trace from stakeholder inputs through design in a digital thread.

  • Lead program team through systems engineering reviews such as System Requirements Review, Preliminary Design review, and Critical Design Review.

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

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 JOB
WHY WE'RE HERE:
The systems engineering team is looking for an experienced system engineer to lead systems engineering for a Group 5 aircraft program at Anduril. The ideal candidate will have experience working with complex unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and ideally will have a strong background in at least one area of expertise (e.g. avionics, software, propulsion, communications, etc.). In addition to a strong technical background, the ideal candidate will also have experience using Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools to develop design artifacts for unmanned systems.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
We are hiring a Systems Engineer to join at the early development stage of a Group 5 autonomous aircraft. You will:
  • Shape customer needs into air vehicle and subsystem requirements in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Develop System Engineering artifacts, including system model, to trace from stakeholder inputs through design in a digital thread. Incorporate input from system safety, software engineering, and other disciplines to shape system architecture.
  • Lead program team through systems engineering reviews including System Requirements Review, Preliminary Design review, and Critical Design Review.
  • Communicate and manage program risks in conjunction with Chief Engineer and Program Management.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • B.S. in aerospace, mechanical, computer science or similar engineering or technical field
  • 2+ years Systems Engineering Experience across the life cycle for an UAS with specific focus on aircraft systems
  • Familiarity and experience with the following standards and handbooks: MIL-HDBK-516C, MIL-STD-882E, ARP-4761, ARP-4754A, DO-178C, DO-254, MIL-STD-881
  • Experience developing subsystem and component requirements and interfaces
  • Experience with Systems Engineering, Requirements Elicitation and Management, Integration, and Test Activities on complex systems - DoD Weapon Systems, Space Systems, etc...
  • Experience with SysML, DoDAF, UAFP, or similar
  • Experience developing various model based system engineering artifacts - Operational Viewpoints, System Viewpoints, activity diagrams, use case diagrams, BDDs, IBDs, parametric diagrams, etc...
  • Outstanding communication skills to include presentation of developed artifacts
  • Experience leading systems engineering efforts on developmental programs.
  • Must hold an active U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience in at least one of the following aircraft areas of expertise: avionics, electrical power systems, communications, propulsion, mechanical systems, hydraulic systems
  • Experience with Cameo MagicDraw or similar systems engineering software (Rhapsody, SparxEA, etc...)
  • Experience with Digital Engineering workflows and Integrated Modeling Environments (i.e. Teamwork Cloud)
  • Demonstrated High ownership and autonomy across the end-to-end systems engineering lifecycle.
  • Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

US Salary Range
$146,000-$194,000 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:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
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. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • 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 contact@anduril.com. 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 https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

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

Social media

FacebookTwitter

View All Anduril Industries Jobs

Apply