Deputy Chief Engineer

True Anomaly; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Parental Leave

Job summary

A technology company is seeking a Digital Thread Architect for a missile defense program in California. The role requires extensive experience in aerospace engineering, leadership capabilities, and a commitment to technical excellence. Successful candidates will support key engineering decisions and ensure operational success while navigating a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in aerospace systems engineering and design.
• Proven leadership in multidisciplinary teams throughout lifecycle development.
• Strong background in configuration management and verification processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical execution of next-generation missile defense program.
• Ensure technical integrity and accuracy of structural analysis.
• Support Chief Engineer in technical reviews and assessments.

Skills

Aerospace systems engineering

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

U.S. citizenship for DoD

Education

Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

MBSE environments

Digital thread concepts

Integrated design ecosystems

Job description

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

True Anomaly is seeking a highly accomplished Digital Thread Architect 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. The Missile Defense Analysis Lead is responsible for ensuring the technical integrity, accuracy, and repeatability of structural analysis across the SBI program. This role establishes the standards, tools, and verification processes that underpin all structural and mechanical analyses for interceptor and host vehicle systems. The position requires a blend of deep technical expertise in finite element and reduced-order modeling with strong leadership in analysis methodology development and execution.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include:

Program Technical Leadership

• Support the Chief Engineer in maintaining overall technical integrity of the missile defense program
• Serve as acting Chief Engineer when delegated, leading technical reviews and milestone readiness assessments
• Translate top-level technical direction and risk posture into actionable guidance for subsystem teams
• Lead integrated design reviews, risk boards, and engineering change control processes

Systems Integration and Verification

• Ensure interfaces between major subsystems (host vehicle, interceptor, kill vehicle, ground systems) are technically sound and compatible
• Drive technical integration across disciplines, avionics, structures, thermal, propulsion, and GNC, to maintain system coherence
• Oversee verification planning, ensuring requirements are traceable, testable, and verified across the full lifecycleEnsure analytical and test rigor is scaled appropriately to design maturity and risk tolerance

Engineering Discipline Coordination

• Mentor discipline leads, ensuring consistency in standards, modeling assumptions, and data management
• Promote cross-functional problem solving, ensuring issues are rapidly elevated and technically resolved
• Enforce engineering rigor, documentation, and configuration control across the design and analysis functions
• Oversee the engineering review process (ERB, CCB) and ensure technical disposition of non-conformances

Strategic and Programmatic Alignment

• Support the Chief Engineer and Program Manager in balancing technical, schedule, and cost trade-offs
• Coordinate with Systems Engineering and SEIT to ensure cohesive technical baseline and verification closure
• Contribute to technology maturation and risk reduction planning for future phases of the SBI program
• Represent engineering during customer technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and audits

Qualifications

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 15+ years of experience in aerospace systems engineering, design, and technical leadership
• Proven record of leading multidisciplinary teams through full lifecycle development (concept through fielding)Deep understanding of configuration management, requirements traceability, and verification processes
• Strong background in one or more core domains (systems, structures, propulsion, GNC, avionics)
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and leadership skills
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• Prior experience as Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, or IPT Lead on a missile defense, launch, or space vehicle program
• Experience interfacing with government technical authorities and independent review boards
• Demonstrated success in scaling technical processes for rapid prototyping through operational deployment
• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
• Familiarity with MBSE environments, digital thread concepts, and integrated design ecosystems
• TS/SCI clearance

Compensation

• 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 we observe a hybrid work environment, 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.

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.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws.