Field Operations Associate, RC Pilot

Anduril

Anduril

Operations
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
USD 86k-100k / year + Equity
Posted on Feb 19, 2026

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.

We are looking for an Associate to join our rapidly growing Field Operations team in Costa Mesa, CA or Ft. Stockton, TX. The role of the Field Operations Associate is a critical part of ensuring our hardware is in a constant state of readiness to ensure the success of our test and evaluation (T&E) and deployment operations. This Associate will oversee a fleet of RC planes that act as surrogates for our Altius fleet. This role will ensure timely maintenance and preparedness, as well as operations in support of Test & Evaluation (T&E) operations. Additionally, this role will support surrogate flight ops for T&E events both in Atlanta and at our field test sites and support Anduril’s strategy to deliver hardware and software to our customers where it is both mission critical and challenging. This will require a breadth of understanding RC piloting and maintenance, the ability to work across teams seamlessly, a deep appreciation for details, and the ability to learn new subject matters quickly. As you execute surrogate T&E ops for our customers and team members, you have the unique opportunity to improve and grow our T&E and deployment capabilities. You will be charged with helping Anduril teams solve exceptional challenges, unblocking issues, and establishing procedures, all with the intention of making sure our customers missions are being met.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Collaborate with operations partners, business leaders, and external stakeholders to ensure the readiness and accountability of RC surrogate fleet
  • Collaborate with your Test and Evaluation partners to ensure that the RC surrogate fleet is constantly test-ready
  • Ensure the reordering, replacement, or repair of assigned equipment
  • End-to-end movement of vehicles and equipment for all demos, deployments, and exercises
  • Coordinate with Flight Test Engineers to assist with test planning
  • Ensure RC fleet, personal operations, and surrogate operations are in compliance with FAA regulations
  • Provide feedback to Engineering and T&E teams on surrogate ops will serve as critical input for their continuous improvement loop
  • Maintain records of both maintenance and operator training and provide general administrative support to internal and external stakeholders
  • Respond to stakeholder inquiries and complaints, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring needs are met regarding surrogate fleet availability and operations


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • BA/BS preferred
  • At least 3 years of RC flight experience on fixed wing, as well as accompanying maintenance operations
  • FAA Part 107
  • FAA Part 61 ground school complete (preferred)
  • Experience collaborating cross functionally working towards a common goal
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritization, and planning
  • Basic efficiency with office related computer applications
  • Experience with scheduling and maintenance processes
  • Highly polished communication skills
  • US Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data
  • This job will include travel up to 50%
US Salary Range
$86,000$100,000 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.

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.