Director, Space Vehicle Chief Engineers

True Anomaly; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 220,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits

Job summary

True Anomaly, based in Centennial, CO, seeks a seasoned Chief Engineer to lead a team of Chief Engineers responsible for the technical execution of next-generation space vehicle programs. You will serve as the senior technical authority, setting engineering standards and ensuring high-quality execution across multiple concurrent programs.

You will shape how chief engineering is practiced, instilling rigor and accountability that scales with the company, while collaborating with program managers

Qualifications

• 18+ years of full lifecycle aerospace or space systems experience.
• Experience developing technical leaders including Chief Engineers.
• Deep systems engineering across mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Ability to set engineering strategy and culture at an organizational level.
• Strong track record translating mission objectives into engineering execution.
• Exceptional communication and leadership across all levels of an organization.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• U.S. Citizen eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP clearance.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Program Managers and senior leadership to align technical strategy with programmatic and business objectives across the portfolio.
• Drive consistency in technical baseline management, design assurance, and readiness review practices across all programs.
• Evaluate and calibrate the balance of rigor and analysis depth appropriate to maturity and risk posture of each program.
• Represent the Chief Engineering function in customer, stakeholder, and executive engagements, communicating technical status, risks, and strategies with clarity.
• Recruit, grow, and retain top engineering talent, building organizational depth in systems engineering and technical leadership.
• Identify and resolve cross-program integration challenges, shared risks, and technical dependencies that span multiple vehicles or subsystems.

Skills

Aerospace leadership

Systems engineering

Executive communication

Cross-domain oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Systems Engineering

Tools

TS/SCI security clearance

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 build, develop and lead a team of Chief Engineers responsible for the technical execution of our next-generation space vehicle programs. In this role, you will serve as the senior technical authority across the space vehicle portfolio, setting engineering standards, cultivating technical leadership talent, and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across multiple concurrent programs. You will shape how chief engineering is practiced at True Anomaly — instilling rigor, accountability, and a culture of sound engineering judgment that scales with the company.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to the responsibilities above, as the Director of this team, you will:

• Partner with Program Managers and senior leadership to align technical strategy with programmatic and business objectives across the portfolio
• Drive consistency in technical baseline management, design assurance, and readiness review practices across all programs
• Evaluate and calibrate the balance of rigor and analysis depth appropriate to the maturity and risk posture of each program
• Represent the Chief Engineering function in customer, stakeholder, and executive engagements, communicating technical status, risks, and strategies with clarity
• Recruit, grow, and retain top engineering talent, building organizational depth in systems engineering and technical leadership
• Identify and resolve cross-program integration challenges, shared risks, and technical dependencies that span multiple vehicles or subsystems

QUALIFICATIONS

• 18+ years of full lifecycle aerospace or space systems experience, including leading major vehicle programs through design, test, and verification
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing technical leaders, including Chief Engineers or equivalent senior roles
• Deep systems engineering background with the ability to provide credible technical oversight across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
• Proven ability to set technical strategy and engineering culture at an organizational level
• Strong track record translating business and mission objectives into engineering execution across a portfolio of programs
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related field
• U.S. Citizen eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
• Experience as a Chief Engineer on a major defense or classified space program
• Demonstrated expertise establishing or scaling systems engineering organizations
• Background in range certification, test readiness reviews, and safety boards
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Familiarity with DoD and NASA mission standards, processes, and acquisition frameworks
• Experience working with government agencies, primes, or subcontractors on space missions

COMPENSATION

• 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, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO.
• 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.