Chief Engineer, Host Vehicle

Trueanomalyinc; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 355,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K

Parental leave

Job summary

True Anomaly is hiring a Chief Engineer, Host Vehicle to oversee technical execution of a next-generation missile defense program. The role demands a leader with over 10 years of aerospace subsystem delivery experience, strong systems engineering skills, and the ability to manage cross-functional technical teams.

Your responsibilities will include architecting solutions for complex missile defense challenges and driving key design reviews to ensure system performance and alignment with mission success criteria. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and equity options.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of proven experience in aerospace subsystem or vehicle delivery.
• Strong systems engineering and technical leadership across domains.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage design cycles.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical execution of a next-generation missile defense program.
• Architect solutions for challenging mission sets in missile defense.
• Drive design and technical readiness reviews and system integration.

Skills

Aerospace subsystem delivery

Cross-functional team leadership

Systems engineering practices

Technical rigor balancing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master’s or Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

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

RESPONSIBILITIES

True Anomaly is seeking a highly accomplished Chief Engineer, Host Vehicle to lead the technical execution of a next‑generation missile defense program. This is a generational opportunity to architect a solution to some of the most challenging mission sets in missile defense, not to mention aerospace engineering as a whole. You will serve as the top technical authority for the host vehicle, accountable for engineering performance, risk management, and system integration. You will lead multi‑disciplinary teams through design, development, analysis, test, and fielding phases while ensuring the vehicle architecture, requirements, and design decisions align with system‑level objectives and mission success criteria. You must impedance match rigor and analysis depth to the maturity and risk posture of the program. Finally you will drive design and technical readiness reviews, technical baseline management, and design assurance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of proven experience delivering a major aerospace subsystem or vehicle from concept through delivery/fielding
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical rigor with schedule and program realities
• Strong systems engineering and technical leadership background across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
• Strong background in systems engineering practices: requirements, verification, trade studies, interface control, and failure analysis
• Ability to lead cross‑functional technical teams and coordinate across hardware and software boundaries
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or related field. Master’s or Ph.D. preferred
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
• Experience with missile defense or space vehicle programs
• Strong track record leading cross‑functional engineering teams and managing design-to-delivery cycles
• TS/SCI clearance

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $210,000-$355,000
• Equity + Benefits: including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Colorado Springs. While a hybrid work environment is observed, some work must be done on site.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

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.