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Chief Engineer, Seeker

Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA

A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability.

OUR MISSION

The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all.

OUR VALUES

  • Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity
  • What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results
  • It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together

YOUR MISSION

The Seeker Subsystem Chief Engineer serves as the accountable technical authority for the interceptor seeker, with end-to-end responsibility spanning requirements definition, architecture, detailed design, integration, test, and verification and validation. This role ensures full traceability from Missile Defense mission-level objectives through seeker subsystem requirements, design implementation, and verified performance, and acts as the final arbiter for seeker technical decisions, risk acceptance, and compliance evidence. 

In this capacity, the SSCE leads the development and maturation of seeker architectures across three distinct topologies, ensuring consistent performance, interface compatibility, and design coherence across variants. The role encompasses technical leadership across all infrared sensor bands, including optics, detectors, focal plane electronics, cryogenic systems, and associated signal processing, and drives informed trade studies to balance mission performance, robustness to countermeasures and operational environments, SWaP-C constraints, producibility, and cost. 

The SSCE defines and controls seeker interfaces with guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), avionics, structures, thermal, propulsion, and algorithm teams, ensuring effective sensor–algorithm co-design and seamless integration into the broader interceptor system. The role supports end-to-end kill chain performance assessments by providing seeker-specific performance characterizations, sensitivities, and risk drivers, and ensures alignment between seeker behavior and overall engagement objectives. 

Ownership of the seeker verification and validation strategy is a core responsibility, encompassing component-level testing, subsystem and environmental qualification, hardware- and software-in-the-loop testing, captive carry, and flight test. The SSCE defines verification methods, success criteria, and data products required to close seeker requirements, leads anomaly resolution and root cause analysis, and certifies the technical sufficiency of seeker test evidence. 

The role provides technical governance for the seeker subsystem by establishing and maintaining technical baselines, managing margins and performance reserves, and leading technical reviews, readiness assessments, and design certifications. The SSCE represents the seeker technical position in program-level, customer, and partner forums, and ensures consistent, disciplined execution across internal teams and external suppliers. 

Finally, the SSCE leads and mentors multidisciplinary seeker engineering teams, setting standards for technical rigor, design discipline, and review quality. The role fosters a culture of accountability, engineering excellence, and mission focus, ensuring that the seeker subsystem is delivered with the performance, robustness, and credibility required to support Missile Defense operational success. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required Qualifications & Experience 

Experience 

  • Advanced degree in Physics, EE, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (PhD strongly preferred) 
  • 15+ years in seeker, EO/IR sensor, or missile guidance system development 
  • Demonstrated ownership of seeker or sensor systems through design, test, and V&V 
  • Deep understanding of IR phenomenology, detector physics, optics, and signal processing 
  • Experience with multi-architecture or multi-variant seeker development 
  • Proven ability to lead high-consequence technical decisions under schedule and performance pressure 

Desired Qualifications 

  • Missile or interceptor seeker development 
  • Space or exo-atmospheric sensor systems 
  • Countermeasure-rich operational environments 
  • Flight test support and post-flight analysis 
  • DoD acquisition programs with formal verification and compliance regimes 

COMPENSATION  

  • Base Salary:  Denver: $250,000 - $325,000, Long Beach: $255,000 - $330,000 
  • Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience. 

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

  • Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance 
  • Work Location: this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO  
  • Work environment is in a standard office, working at a desk or in a production factory. 
  • Physical demands may include frequent standing, sitting, walking, bending, and lifting or carrying items up to 20lbs. 

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Hybrid

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

We value diversity of experience, knowledge, backgrounds and perspectives and harness these qualities to create extraordinary impact. True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, maternity or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know. 

 

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.

 

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