Optical Payload Engineer Intern in Costa Mesa

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on transforming U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. Its family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a real-time, 3D command and control center.

About the Job

As an Optical Payload Engineer intern on the Space team, you will help integrate EO payloads onto spacecraft platforms, from initial concept development through on-orbit operations. You will gain exposure to payload system engineering, including architecture and requirement derivation, performance modeling, design reviews, laboratory testing, spacecraft assembly, integration and test, on-orbit initialization, and mission operations. You will work with engineering, specialty, and program management teams to take a payload design to maturity.

You will communicate risk, issues, and progress clearly with customer representatives and external vendors. You will configure and operate test equipment such as collimators, integrating spheres, and interferometers. Payloads you work with include visible through long wave infrared imagers (CMOS and CCD focal planes), microbolometer thermal sensors, LiDAR, and laser range finders. Experience with event-based cameras, quantum detectors, and metamaterials is highly desired.

What You'll Do

• Perform concept designs of active and passive EO payloads
• Derive system and unit level requirements
• Analyze performance using payload technology and related physics
• Identify key performance parameters and create lab test plans and procedures
• Characterize radiometric and geometric performance of flight hardware using collimators, integrating spheres, theodolites, laser trackers, and interferometers
• Help author Interface Control Documents (ICDs) covering electrical, data, algorithmic, mechanical, thermal, and optical interfaces
• Coordinate between mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software teams to resolve integration trades and manage technical risk
• Define payload data calibration algorithms and data products, working with computer vision and flight software engineers to add them to the processing pipeline
• Define on-orbit calibration sequences and initialization procedures, and provide real-time engineering support during nominal operations
• Communicate clearly with customers at design reviews and throughout the payload development lifecycle
• Assist assembly and integration campaigns for space systems flight hardware
• Work across teams to define testing requirements, including verification and validation plans
• Develop test plans and procedures for prototype, qualification, and acceptance of flight hardware

Benefits

Anduril offers a comprehensive benefits package, available at little to no cost to employees, covering health, recovery, and more. Full-time offers typically include equity grants as part of total compensation. Details are available on the Anduril careers site.