Chief Engineer, Space Vehicle

Trueanomalyinc; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 210,000 - 355,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision benefits

401(k)

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly in Denver, Colorado, is looking for a Chief Engineer to spearhead the technical execution of next-generation space vehicle programs. This position requires substantial experience in leading aerospace projects and accountability for engineering performance and system integration.

The ideal candidate will manage multi-disciplinary teams through design and development phases while ensuring alignment with mission objectives and requirements. With responsibilities that include ownership of technical baselines and development of actionable engineering solutions, this role is pivotal for strategic national defense initiatives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years full lifecycle experience in aerospace programs.
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical rigor with schedules.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical baseline for the program.
• Own program technical budgets.
• Lead system trade studies and performance evaluations.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems architecture

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Systems engineering

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

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

True Anomaly is seeking a highly accomplished Chief Engineer to lead the technical execution of a next-generation space vehicle program. In this role you will play a critical role in defining, analyzing, and ensuring the successful implementation of mission requirements across complex, mission-critical space systems, supporting national defense initiatives, and advancing technologies in autonomous space operations. You will serve as the top technical authority for the 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. You will drive design and technical readiness reviews, technical baseline management, and design assurance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Have ownership over the technical baseline for the program
• Be accountable for program technical budgets
• Assist program manager in scope, cost, and schedule decisions
• Collaborate with customers, stakeholders, and internal teams to define and document mission objectives, system requirements, and operational concepts.
• Translate customer and mission needs into actionable engineering solutions, ensuring alignment with technical and programmatic constraints.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, and feasibility assessments to ensure optimal system architecture design.
• Coordinate with subsystem teams to troubleshoot and resolve integration challenges, ensuring mission readiness.
• Support mission operations teams during testing and real-time mission execution.
• Assess mission success criteria and operational risks and propose mitigation strategies.
• Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans for safe and reliable mission execution.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 15+ years full lifecycle experience, including leading a vehicle through design, test, and verification
• Strong technical leadership and systems architecture experience
• Proven leadership in design, analysis, and verification on a major aerospace program
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with ability to lead technical trades
• 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 or related field
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
• Strong track record leading cross‑functional engineering teams and managing design‑to‑delivery cycles
• Demonstrated expertise with Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Background in range certification, test readiness reviews, and safety boards
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience in defense or classified space missions.
• Familiarity with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA mission standards and processes
• Experience working with government agencies, primes, or subcontractors on space missions.

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $210,000‑$355,000
• Equity + Benefits: including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401(k), 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, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location: this is a fully onsite position based out of our Centennial, CO office.
• 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.

REGULATIONS & EEO STANDING

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 let us know.