Director of Space Engineering

Please See Below; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Thoriva AI seeks a senior leader to drive space engineering strategy and hands-on development across national security space, defense mission systems, and emerging lunar infrastructure. You will translate mission needs into secure AI, edge computing, DevSecOps, mission software, and space systems solutions for government and industry customers.

The role requires influencing executives and program managers, mentoring engineers and SMEs, and presenting technical demonstrations to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum understanding of national security space, satellite systems, ground systems, mission software, command and control, space domain awareness, or related mission architectures.
• Experience shaping technical solutions for federal, defense, intelligence, aerospace, or space customers.
• Working knowledge of secure cloud, edge computing, DevSecOps, AI/ML, data platforms, and cyber-secure mission environments.
• Ability to brief executives, operators, engineers, acquisition leaders, and technical review boards.

Responsibilities

• Lead space engineering strategy across national security space, defense space, commercial space, lunar infrastructure, space manufacturing, and cislunar mission areas.
• Develop technical solutions for mission planning, space command and control, autonomy, AI-enabled operations, data fusion, satellite operations, and cloud-to-edge deployment.
• Support capture, proposals, white papers, customer briefings, technical demonstrations, and strategic partner discussions.
• Define reusable reference architectures for secure AI mission systems across cloud, edge, disconnected, and classified environments.
• Mentor architects, engineers, product teams, and mission SMEs supporting space programs.
• Represent Thoriva AI with senior government, military, prime contractor, and commercial space stakeholders.

Skills

Space systems knowledge

Federal/defense customers

Cloud/edge computing

DevSecOps

AI/ML

Job description

Lead Thoriva AI’s space engineering strategy, solution development, and technical execution across national security space, defense mission systems, commercial space, and emerging lunar/cislunar infrastructure markets. This role translates mission needs into secure AI, edge computing, DevSecOps, mission software, and space systems solutions for government and industry customers.

• Lead space engineering strategy across national security space, defense space, commercial space, lunar infrastructure, space manufacturing, and cislunar mission areas.
• Develop technical solutions for mission planning, space command and control, autonomy, AI-enabled operations, data fusion, satellite operations, and cloud-to-edge deployment.
• Support capture, proposals, white papers, customer briefings, technical demonstrations, and strategic partner discussions.
• Define reusable reference architectures for secure AI mission systems across cloud, edge, disconnected, and classified environments.
• Mentor architects, engineers, product teams, and mission SMEs supporting space programs.
• Represent Thoriva AI with senior government, military, prime contractor, and commercial space stakeholders.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of national security space, satellite systems, ground systems, mission software, command and control, space domain awareness, or related mission architectures.
• Experience shaping technical solutions for federal, defense, intelligence, aerospace, or space customers.
• Working knowledge of secure cloud, edge computing, DevSecOps, AI/ML, data platforms, and cyber-secure mission environments.
• Ability to brief executives, operators, engineers, acquisition leaders, and technical review boards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Space Force, SDA, NRO, NGA, NASA, DoW space programs, or major aerospace/defense primes.
• Experience with lunar systems, cislunar operations, space manufacturing, digital twins, robotics, autonomy, RMF, ATO, or cATO.

Success Outcomes

• Establish Thoriva AI as a credible technical leader in space and defense AI.
• Create reusable architectures that move from prototype to funded program.
• Grow opportunities across Space Force, DoW, IC, NASA, and commercial space markets.