Staff Software Engineer - Cryptography

About the Role

We're looking for a principal-level engineer to serve as a technical leader for platform security across Anduril. This role combines deep expertise in cryptography, systems security, and secure architecture with the ability to drive security strategy across business lines and the platform. You'll own the design of Anduril's most critical security systems — cryptographic infrastructure for autonomous platforms, hardware root-of-trust architectures for robotic systems, secure communication protocols for contested environments — and you'll set the technical direction that shapes how security is built into every product. This is a role for someone who has designed and shipped security systems at the intersection of hardware, firmware, and software, and can lead others through complex technical decisions with lasting consequences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the technical vision and architecture for platform security across Anduril's product ecosystem
• Design cryptographic systems, protocols, and key management architectures for autonomous and robotic platforms operating in contested and disconnected environments
• Lead the design of hardware root-of-trust architectures integrating TPMs, TEEs, HSMs, and secure boot across diverse embedded platforms
• Drive the strategy for promoting business-line security implementations into shared, composable platform services
• Serve as the senior technical authority for security architecture reviews across the organization, providing definitive guidance on cryptographic design, protocol security, and system hardening
• Define security patterns, reference architectures, and engineering standards that enable teams across Anduril to build securely and independently
• Mentor and develop senior engineers on the team, raising the bar for security engineering across the organization
• Represent Anduril's security engineering capabilities to customers, partners, and auditors when deep technical credibility is required
• Evaluate emerging threats, cryptographic standards, and security technologies, driving adoption where they strengthen the platform

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with significant depth in systems security and cryptography
• Expert-level knowledge of cryptographic protocol design, including key management architectures, certificate systems, and cryptographic agility
• Deep experience with hardware security: TPM, TEE, HSM, secure boot, and hardware root-of-trust design across multiple platform types
• Proficient in two or more of: C++, Rust, Go
• Experience designing security architectures for embedded, real-time, or robotic systems with constrained environments
• Track record of leading cross-organizational technical initiatives and driving architectural decisions that span multiple teams
• Strong ability to communicate complex security concepts to engineering leadership, product teams, and external stakeholders
• Experience performing and leading threat modeling, security architecture reviews, and cryptographic design reviews
• Eligible to obtain and maintain active U.S. Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with post-quantum cryptography, distributed key generation (DKG), or threshold cryptographic schemes
• Background in defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems with exposure to FIPS 140, Common Criteria, or NSA CSfC requirements
• Experience designing secure communication protocols for autonomous platforms or mesh networks
• Deep knowledge of Linux kernel security, mandatory access controls (SELinux/AppArmor), and OS hardening at scale
• Experience building and evolving platform security services consumed by dozens of teams
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks (STIGs, NIST 800-53, CMMC) and translating them into engineering controls that don't compromise developer velocity
• Publications, patents, or recognized contributions in cryptography or systems security
• Experience with Nix build systems and reproducible build pipelines for security-critical software   We request transcripts as part of the early application process to understand your academic background and how your coursework supports the skills deemed critical for the role. Transcripts help us assess your technical and analytical abilities, complementing our interview process in which we also evaluate practical experience and cultural fit. If you choose not to share your transcripts, you will need to provide detailed information regarding your academic performance in relevant courses, including projects and coursework specifics, to ensure we evaluate your academic accomplishments properly. If you do provide academic transcripts, feel free to redact non-technical information (e.g., student ID, dates, non-technical coursework, etc.). Unofficial transcripts obtained online acceptable for this assessment.

US Salary Range

$220,000 - $292,000 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.   

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 [email protected]. 
• 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 [email protected]. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.