Engineering Manager, Electro-Optical Systems

Trueanomalyinc; California (MO); On-site; USD 190,000 - 295,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

401K Plan

Job summary

True Anomaly is looking for an innovative Electro-Optical Systems Engineering Manager to lead a team in California. This role includes managing the development of high-performance optical systems for seeker and autonomous orbital vehicles.

With a focus on EO payload systems, the successful candidate will oversee the entire development lifecycle. This position requires significant experience and offers a competitive salary ranging from $190,000 to $295,000 along with benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in electro-optical systems design and development.
• Experience with EO/IR imaging systems and proximity operations.
• Ability to lead engineering teams and deliver hardware on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical direction for EO/IR payload systems.
• Lead and mentor electro-optical engineering teams.
• Manage schedules, budgets, and technical risk across EO payload programs.

Skills

Electro-optical systems design

Team leadership

Technical risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Zemax/OpticStudio

LiDAR systems

Job description

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is seeking an innovative Electro-Optical Systems Engineering Manager to lead a small, agile team responsible for the design, development, integration, and testing of high-performance, affordable optical systems for our seeker and autonomous orbital vehicles. This includes Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) suites, LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging, and other advanced EO/IR payloads. Reporting to the VP of New Product Engineering, this role encompasses deep technical contribution alongside people management and strategic product planning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the technical direction for EO/IR payload systems, including seekers, RPO sensor suites, LiDAR, and hyperspectral imaging systems
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of electro-optical engineers across the full payload development lifecycle
• Oversee end-to-end EO systems development: requirements definition, optical and systems design, component selection, analysis, procurement, integration, and test
• Evaluate and down-select between vertically integrated and COTS solutions based on performance, cost, schedule, and mission risk
• Partner with the VP of New Product Engineering, Business Development, and Program Office to define and maintain the company's EO systems development roadmap
• Develop and maintain optical performance budgets, including radiometric, signal-to-noise, and resolution analyses
• Ensure payload designs meet mission requirements for reliability, thermal performance, radiation tolerance, and size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints
• Manage schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical risk across multiple EO payload programs
• Collaborate with avionics, systems engineering, GNC, and software teams to ensure seamless spacecraft integration
• Drive compliance with applicable aerospace standards and lead design reviews with internal stakeholders and customers
• Communicate product development status and issues with leadership and stakeholders

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)
• 10+ years of professional experience in electro-optical systems design and development for aerospace, defense, or high-reliability applications
• Demonstrated experience with EO/IR imaging systems, including detector selection, optical design, and system-level performance modeling
• Experience with proximity operations or seeker sensor architectures, LiDAR systems, or hyperspectral imaging payloads
• Strong understanding of radiometric analysis, optical performance budgeting, and image quality assessment
• Familiarity with SWaP-constrained design trade-offs for spacecraft payloads
• Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams and deliver complex hardware on schedule

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience with space-qualified or radiation-tolerant EO/IR detector and focal plane array technologies
• Familiarity with optical design tools such as Zemax/OpticStudio, CODE V, or similar
• Experience with LiDAR system design, waveform processing, and point cloud generation
• Knowledge of hyperspectral sensor design, calibration, and on-orbit data processing
• Experience with thermal and structural analysis of optomechanical systems
• Familiarity with CCSDS or other space telemetry standards for payload data downlink
• Experience working in a fast-paced, startup environment or a similarly dynamic setting

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $190,000-$295,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance
• Work Location—this role will be onsite at either our Centennial, CO or Long Beach, CA locations, with travel to other sites as needed.
• 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.
• Eligibility—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.