Senior Product Designer, Mission Autonomy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Mission Autonomy

Company: Anduril Industries

Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-12T18:17:12

Experience Level: 5+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the design vision for unified command and control systems managing hundreds of autonomous vehicles across all operational domains (air, ground, surface, subsurface).

• Translate highly technical software and complex operational challenges into intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for military operators.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and end-users to ensure product success from discovery through delivery.

• Champion user empathy by conducting on-site field observations and workshops with soldiers to understand pain points and validate design hypotheses.

• Leverage and extend existing design systems to meet the unique demands of large-scale autonomous operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is focused on designing the user experience for complex autonomous systems within the defense sector, specifically for Anduril's Lattice OS. The emphasis is on creating interfaces that enable military operators to effectively manage and control fleets of autonomous vehicles, requiring a deep understanding of user needs in high-stakes, mission-critical environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Shape user experiences for autonomous vehicle fleet management, mission planning, live execution, autonomous collaboration, and generative AI integration.

• Conduct user research, including field observations, customer discovery, and iterative prototyping, to build deep user empathy and address critical pain points.

• Develop comprehensive design documentation, including product narratives, journey maps, user workflows, and high-fidelity mockups, to inspire and guide development teams.

• Design clear, precise, and polished interfaces that minimize cognitive burden for operators and enable ease of use in demanding operational contexts.

• Partner with engineering and product management to define realistic delivery timelines, prioritizing critical functionality for operational deployment.

• Identify opportunities for design system reuse and extension to ensure consistency and scalability across Anduril's product portfolio.

• Contribute to the central design team by actively participating in design critiques, mentoring peers, and sharing best practices across various design specialties.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to design, requiring significant direct interaction with end-users (soldiers) and a strong ability to translate technically complex requirements into actionable design solutions. The role demands a systems-thinking approach to ensure cohesive user experiences across a broad range of autonomous operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX Design, Industrial Design, or a related field is strongly implied by the experience and skill requirements.

Experience: 5+ years of experience in product design, UX, or HCI, with a demonstrated track record of executing high-quality, technically informed solutions in complex domains.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to drive feature-level and system-level design work independently, navigating ambiguity with sound judgment.

• Deep expertise in visual and interaction design, capable of crafting elegant solutions for complex technical workflows where precision and clarity are paramount.

• Strong systems thinking skills, with the ability to map user journeys across diverse user types and operational contexts.

• Proficient in prototyping tools to enhance clarity and drive decision-making processes.

• Excellent communication skills to articulate design rationale and effectively manage complex stakeholder requirements across engineering, product, and business teams.

• Ability to produce high-craft design outputs as evidenced by a strong portfolio.

• Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret (TS) clearance with SCI eligibility. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for operator-focused software in domains such as aviation, autonomous systems, robotics, industrial control systems, or logistics.

• Familiarity with workflows related to planning, execution, monitoring, or debriefing of autonomous or distributed systems.

• Track record of delivering high-quality design in fast-paced, mission-critical environments with evolving priorities.

• Experience maturing products from early development stages to operational readiness.

• Ability to work within and contribute to established design systems, developing thoughtful extensions for domain-specific needs.

• Experience leading user research sessions, including customer discovery and synthesis of complex feedback.

• Strong facilitation skills for leading workshops and guiding cross-functional alignment.

• Experience designing for constrained or high-stakes/safety-critical environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design proficiency, strategic thinking, and user-centricity, crucial for designing systems in defense. The necessity of a TS/SCI clearance is a significant qualification that will filter candidates. The preference for specific domain experience highlights the complex nature of the operational environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing high-craft visual and interaction design, with a specific emphasis on complex technical workflows and elegant solutions.

• Demonstrations of systems thinking, including user journey maps and cross-platform experience design.

• Case studies detailing the process from problem identification through to solution delivery, highlighting the "why" behind design decisions.

• Examples of how prototype use drove clarity and decision-making in past projects.

• Evidence of experience navigating complex stakeholder requirements and translating them into design outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process, including user research methodologies (field observations, customer discovery, usability testing).

• Documentation of how design decisions were made, supported by user empathy and pain point analysis.

• Examples of workflow design for complex operational contexts, illustrating planning, execution, and monitoring phases.

• Demonstrations of how design systems were utilized, extended, or contributed to, ensuring consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to handle complex technical design challenges. It needs to clearly showcase not only visual and interaction design skills but also strategic thinking, user research capabilities, and the ability to drive projects from inception to completion within demanding environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated salary range for this position is $154,000 to $231,000 USD per year. This range reflects the seniority of the role and the specialized nature of the work within the defense technology sector. The final offer will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, education, and business needs.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive equity grants are included in most full-time offers, forming a significant part of the total compensation package.

• Comprehensive, top-tier benefits package designed to support employee health, recovery, and overall well-being. Specifics include health insurance and other benefits detailed on the company's careers page.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning within a cutting-edge technology company.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are 40 hours per week, consistent with full-time employment. Given the on-site nature and mission-critical focus, flexibility may be required at times to meet project deadlines and operational demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of the seniority and specialized skill set required for this role. The inclusion of equity grants and comprehensive benefits signifies a competitive total compensation package. The "on-site" work arrangement and the nature of defense technology work suggest that while standard hours apply, occasional flexibility might be expected to support mission objectives.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Technology. Anduril Industries is at the forefront of modernizing military capabilities by integrating advanced 21st-century technology, including AI, autonomy, and advanced networking, into defense systems. The company aims to accelerate the development and deployment of these technologies to meet evolving strategic competition.

Company Size: Anduril Industries is a rapidly growing company, indicated by its presence on Greenhouse and its mission to transform the defense sector. While the exact current size isn't specified, it is a significant player in the defense tech space, suggesting a dynamic and well-resourced organization.

Founded: Anduril Industries was founded with the aim of bringing innovation to the defense industry, focusing on rapid development and deployment of advanced technology.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team acts as a central hub, connecting various software products and ensuring thoughtful scaling across platforms and mission types.

• This specific role is within the Lattice Mission Autonomy team, focusing on the command and control of autonomous vehicles.

• Collaboration is expected with engineers, product managers, and directly with military customers (soldiers and subject matter experts). Methodology:

• A strong emphasis on user-centric design, with significant time spent on-site with operators to build empathy and address pain points.

• Iterative prototyping and design validation through direct customer feedback.

• Driving product development from discovery through delivery, with a focus on getting critical functionality into operators' hands quickly.

• Leveraging and extending existing design systems for consistency and efficiency.

• A culture of continuous learning, design critique, and sharing best practices across the design organization.

Company Website: https://www.anduril.com/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: Anduril Industries operates with a mission-driven approach, focusing on rapid innovation and impact in the defense sector. The culture likely values speed, technical excellence, and a pragmatic, hands-on approach to problem-solving. The design team's role as a "connective tissue" emphasizes its integral position in bridging technical development with operational needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Senior" Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level of responsibility. It requires significant autonomy in design execution, the ability to drive feature and system-level work, and a strong capacity for navigating complex ambiguities. The role is expected to contribute to design vision and potentially mentor junior designers.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the Lattice OS organization. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads for the Mission Autonomy team.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is direct and significant. By designing the command and control interfaces for autonomous vehicles, the Senior Product Designer will directly influence how the military operates robots at scale. This includes enhancing operator trust, reducing cognitive burden, and increasing operational capacity across all domains, which is critical for Anduril's mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for autonomous systems, AI-driven interfaces, and high-stakes operational environments.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Lead role, managing specific product areas or mentoring a team of designers. Contribution to design critiques and best practices sharing fosters leadership development.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different product teams within Anduril by contributing to the core design system and sharing expertise.

• Technical Mastery: Gain in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge defense technology, including AI, computer vision, and sensor fusion, and how to design intuitive user experiences for these systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a need for demonstrated leadership in design execution and problem-solving. The growth opportunities are geared towards specialization in a cutting-edge field and potential advancement into leadership positions, reflecting the company's growth and investment in its talent.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is on-site in Costa Mesa, California. Anduril Industries fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment, characteristic of fast-paced technology companies. The emphasis on "on-site with soldiers" suggests that the workplace design likely facilitates direct interaction and rapid feedback loops.

Office Location(s): Costa Mesa, California, United States. This location is likely equipped with the necessary facilities to support design operations, including collaborative workspaces, prototyping labs, and access to relevant software and hardware.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative spaces designed to foster interaction between designers, engineers, and product managers.

• Access to advanced design tools and prototyping software essential for creating high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.

• Opportunities for direct engagement with end-users through on-site visits and workshops, allowing for real-time feedback and iterative design.

• A mission-focused environment where the impact of design work on critical operations is clearly visible.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard working hours. However, given the mission-critical nature of defense technology and the fast-paced environment, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines and support operational needs, especially during critical development phases or field deployments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial for this role, enabling close collaboration with cross-functional teams and direct interaction with military personnel. The workspace is expected to be conducive to rapid iteration and hands-on user research, reflecting the company's agile development approach.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements. Be prepared to showcase your best work that demonstrates complex problem-solving and high-craft design.

• Portfolio Review & Design Exercise: A deeper dive into your portfolio, discussing specific case studies and design decisions. You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a solution to a hypothetical problem relevant to autonomous systems or command and control interfaces. Focus on articulating your process, rationale, and user-centric approach.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit. Be ready to discuss how you partner with technical teams and advocate for user needs.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex technical workflows, systems thinking, and user-centered design for critical applications. Prioritize projects involving autonomy, AI, or complex operational environments if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key challenges, your solutions, and the impact or outcome. Emphasize your rationale and decision-making.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and user flow diagrams to visually communicate your design solutions.

• Highlight Technical Understanding: Demonstrate how you considered technical constraints and collaborated with engineering teams.

• Address User Empathy: Showcase how you incorporated user research and feedback into your design process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Anduril Industries, Lattice OS, and the challenges of designing for military autonomy and command & control. Familiarize yourself with concepts like fleet management, AI integration, and operator trust in autonomous systems.

• Practice Articulation: Prepare to clearly and concisely explain your design process, rationale, and trade-offs. Practice presenting your portfolio and responding to "why" questions about your design choices.

• Systems Thinking Exercises: Be ready to discuss how you approach designing for interconnected systems and complex user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio for evidence of high-craft, technical understanding, and user empathy in complex domains. Preparation should focus on articulating design strategy, process, and impact, particularly for projects involving sophisticated technical systems.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools is expected, such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools like InVision, Principle, or Figma's native prototyping capabilities.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and synthesizing research findings.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with project management and collaboration platforms like Jira, Asana, Confluence, or Slack for team communication and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for a Product Designer, an understanding of how design impacts user behavior and system performance, potentially using analytics platforms to inform design decisions, would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but an understanding of how design interfaces with backend systems and data pipelines is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on core UX/UI design and prototyping tools. The ability to use these tools to create high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes is key. Familiarity with collaboration tools is also important for seamless integration with engineering and product teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Anduril's mission of transforming military capabilities through advanced technology. This implies a dedication to solving hard problems with significant impact.

• Innovation & Speed: A culture that values rapid iteration, pushing technological boundaries, and delivering solutions quickly to meet urgent operational needs.

• Technical Excellence: A high standard for engineering and design quality, focusing on robust, reliable, and cutting-edge solutions.

• User Focus: Deep empathy and direct engagement with end-users (military operators) to ensure designs are practical, effective, and build trust in critical situations.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and strong teamwork across disciplines (design, engineering, product) to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: The design team acts as a bridge, working closely with engineering and product management to ensure alignment from concept to deployment.

• Direct User Engagement: A proactive approach to user research and feedback, involving regular interaction with soldiers and subject matter experts.

• Design Critiques & Knowledge Sharing: A culture where constructive feedback is welcomed, and best practices are shared across the design organization to elevate the overall quality of work.

• Iterative Design Process: Embracing feedback and changes, with a focus on continuous improvement and rapid iteration in response to user needs and evolving program requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is defined by its mission in defense technology, emphasizing speed, innovation, and technical rigor. The design team's values align with these principles, focusing on user empathy, cross-functional collaboration, and the delivery of high-impact solutions in a mission-critical context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for autonomous military systems involves highly complex technical concepts, unique operational constraints, and the paramount importance of safety and reliability.

• Ambiguity & Rapid Evolution: The defense technology landscape and specific program requirements can evolve rapidly, requiring designers to be adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Feasibility: Effectively translating user requirements into designs that are both intuitive for operators and technically achievable by engineering teams.

• Security & Clearance Requirements: The necessity of obtaining and maintaining a TS/SCI clearance can be a hurdle for some candidates and adds a layer of complexity to the hiring and onboarding process.

• High-Stakes Environment: The direct impact of design decisions on mission success and operator safety creates a high-pressure, high-reward environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunities to become a leading expert in designing for autonomous systems, AI interfaces, and command & control for defense applications.

• Advanced Technology Exposure: Working with cutting-edge technologies like AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and generative AI in a practical, applied context.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining a deep understanding of military operations, engineering challenges, and product strategy through close collaboration.

• Design System Contribution: Playing a key role in evolving and expanding a sophisticated design system used across a portfolio of advanced defense products.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to mentor peers and potentially grow into leadership roles within the design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working in a cutting-edge defense technology company. The growth opportunities are significant for individuals looking to specialize in a highly impactful and technologically advanced design field, with clear paths for skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly complex technical system with significant safety implications. What was your process, and what were the key trade-offs you navigated?" (Focus on process, user empathy, technical consideration, and decision-making.)

• "How would you approach designing a user interface for controlling a fleet of 100 autonomous drones in a contested environment, balancing operator workload and situational awareness?" (Demonstrate systems thinking, user journey mapping, and understanding of operational needs.)

• "Tell me about a situation where you had to influence stakeholders (engineering, product, military users) to adopt your design vision. How did you build consensus and advocate for your proposed solutions?" (Highlight communication, collaboration, and persuasion skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Anduril's mission and the defense technology space?" (Show genuine interest in the company's purpose and the challenges of the industry.)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with a mission-driven, fast-paced company like Anduril?" (Connect your values and working style to the company's culture.)

• "Describe your experience working with military operators or in other high-stakes operational environments. What did you learn?" (If applicable, share relevant experiences; if not, discuss how you would approach building empathy.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline: the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key challenges encountered, your design solutions, and the final outcome or impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced error rates, increased user satisfaction). If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Highlight Technical Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with engineers and product managers, showcasing your understanding of technical constraints and your ability to translate complex requirements into usable interfaces.

• Explain Your "Why": For every significant design decision, be ready to explain the rationale behind it, grounding it in user needs, business goals, or technical feasibility.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, alternative solutions you considered, and how you handle feedback and critiques.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating expertise in complex technical design, user empathy, and strong collaboration skills. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring a clear, narrative-driven approach that emphasizes process, rationale, and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your strongest case studies that highlight complex technical design, systems thinking, and user-centered problem-solving. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to emphasize 5+ years of experience in product design/UX/HCI, highlighting achievements related to complex workflows, technical systems, and user research. Integrate keywords from the job description naturally.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, explaining your design decisions, and articulating your process for handling ambiguity and technical challenges. Be ready to discuss how you'd approach designing for autonomous systems.

• Research Anduril: Familiarize yourself with Anduril Industries, its mission, its products (especially Lattice OS), and the defense technology sector. Understand their commitment to innovation, speed, and user focus in a mission-critical context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.