Mission Architect, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

True Anomaly, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision insurance (100%

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) retirement plan

Equity participation

Parental Leave

Dog Fridays

Job summary

True Anomaly, Inc. is seeking a Mission Architect to lead the definition, trades, technical direction, and customer alignment for high-stakes rendezvous and proximity operations missions.

You will own mission design and system-level decisions across the lifecycle, collaborating with cross-functional teams and government customers. You will apply astrodynamics practices, leverage STK/GMAT/FreeFlyer, and guide risk-based decisions while coordinating with subsystems and mission operations to ensure

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in mission analysis, space operations, or orbital mechanics.
• Strong leadership and systems architecture experience.
• Expertise in rendezvous and proximity operations mission design and spacecraft operations.
• Deep understanding of orbital mechanics and autonomous space operations.
• Proficiency with mission analysis tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or similar.
• Programming experience in MATLAB, Python, or C++.
• Experience with mission planning and real-time mission support.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI or TS/SAP clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define mission objectives, system requirements, and operational concepts with stakeholders.
• Translate needs into engineering solutions and run mission trades and direction.
• Lead system trades, performance evaluations, and feasibility studies for architecture.
• Design, simulate, and analyze rendezvous and proximity operations trajectories.
• Optimize maneuvers for fuel efficiency, timing, and risk mitigation.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations for government agencies and customers.
• Oversee system integration and verification plans, and conduct end-to-end testing.
• Support mission operations during testing and real-time execution.

Skills

Rendezvous and proximity operations

Orbital mechanics

Autonomous space operations

Mission design

System architecture

STK

FreeFlyer

GMAT

MATLAB

Python

C++

Security clearance TS/SCI or TS/SAP

Education

Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

STK

FreeFlyer

GMAT

Job description

Mission Architect, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

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.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
• Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
• Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
• And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
• Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.

YOUR MISSION

We are looking for a Mission Architect to join our team in developing the next generation of space domain awareness and rendezvous and proximity operations systems. The Mission Architect will play a critical role in defining, analyzing, and ensuring the successful execution of missions across a system of systems. In this role, you will own the mission definition, mission-level trades, mission technical direction, and customer alignment throughout the full program execution lifecycle, from contract award through mission completion.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Mission Design and Requirements Analysis

• 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 while ensuring alignment with technical and programmatic constraints.
• Define key mission technical performance measures to establish a mission-driven decision-making framework.
• Apply analysis and modeling techniques, including parametric analysis, to support engineering decisions in the absence of specific requirements.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, and feasibility assessments to ensure an optimal system architecture.
• Lead the design, simulation, and analysis of rendezvous and proximity operations mission trajectories.
• Optimize spacecraft maneuvers to achieve mission objectives while considering fuel efficiency, timing, and risk mitigation.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and customers.

System Integration and Verification

• Oversee the integration of mission systems, ensuring seamless interaction among hardware, software, and operational components.
• Develop system-level integration and verification plans and conduct end-to-end testing to validate mission requirements.
• Coordinate with subsystem teams to troubleshoot and resolve integration challenges, ensuring mission readiness.
• Support mission operations teams during testing and real-time mission execution.

Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis

• Apply the fundamentals of astrodynamics using software and analysis tools, including orbit propagation, orbit determination, geometric orbit analysis, and mission engineering concepts.
• Design parametric analyses and Monte Carlo studies to support engineering decision-making.
• Conduct system performance analyses, including assessments of reliability, safety, and mission effectiveness under various environmental conditions.
• Assess mission success criteria and operational risks and propose mitigation strategies.
• Conduct pre-flight and post-flight mission analyses, including trajectory reconstruction and anomaly investigations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 12+ years of experience in mission analysis, space operations, or orbital mechanics.
• Strong technical leadership and systems architecture experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in rendezvous and proximity operations mission design and spacecraft operations.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and autonomous space operations.
• Hands‑on experience with mission analysis tools such as STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or similar software.
• Proficiency in simulation tools and programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++.
• Experience with mission planning and real-time mission support.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience supporting defense or classified space missions.

COMPENSATION

• Staff: $160,000 - $245,000
• 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—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Long Beach.
• 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.

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 know.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in True Anomaly’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.