Seeker Responsible Engineer

True Anomaly; Long Beach, Denver (CA, CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits (Health, Dental, VIs

401K, PTO

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a Seeker Responsible Engineer to lead the design and integration of seeker sensor systems for a critical spacecraft program. You will own the full signal chain from optics to image processing and ensure a coherent, mission-ready design across hardware, software and test disciplines.

You will bring deep expertise across VNIR to LWIR, radiometric analysis, and system performance modeling, and lead cross-functional teams to meet demanding requirements and program milestones.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in electro-optical system design and development (VNIR through LWIR).
• Experience as a system or subsystem Responsible Engineer owning requirements, integration, and verification.
• Exposure to calibration methodologies and on-orbit CONOPS development.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for the seeker sensor system, owning technical direction and performance throughout concept to on-orbit operation.
• Decompose system-level requirements into subsystem specs with full traceability to mission needs.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across optical, detector, electronics, firmware and software disciplines.
• Apply radiometric budgeting and image processing to support model-based testing and validation.

Skills

Electro-optical design

System engineering

Radiometric analysis

Image processing

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Optical/Electrical Physics

Tools

FRED

ASAP

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 an exceptional Seeker Responsible Engineer to lead the technical development and integration of seeker sensor systems for one of our most critical spacecraft programs. In this role, you will serve as the single technical authority for the seeker — owning the full signal chain from optical collection through image processing and ensuring a technically coherent, mission-ready design across hardware, software, and test disciplines. You will bring deep expertise across the electro-optical spectrum from VNIR through LWIR, a rigorous command of radiometric analysis and system performance modeling, and the leadership presence to drive requirements, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and represent the seeker system with confidence to customers and program stakeholders. This is a high-visibility role with direct impact on True Anomaly's most consequential payload development efforts.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the Responsible Engineer for the seeker sensor system, owning technical direction, integration, and performance accountability from concept through on-orbit operation
• Drive the generation and decomposition of system-level requirements into subsystem andcomponentspecifications, ensuring full traceability from mission need to verified performance
• Manage multidisciplinary development efforts spanning optical, detector, electronics, firmware, and software teams to ensure a technically coherent seeker design
• Apply radiometric budgeting toallocatesignal, noise, and margin across the sensor design,validatingthat performance predictions meet mission requirements
• Develop andmaintaina strong understanding of calibration methodologies and on-orbit CONOPS to ensure the seeker performs reliably throughout its mission lifecycle
• Apply synthetic image generation and image processing techniques to support model-based testing, algorithm development, and signal chain performance troubleshooting
• Define and support seeker integration, characterization, and qualification test campaigns, ensuring traceability of test results to requirements
• Generate andmaintaintechnical documentation including system specifications, interface requirements, analysis reports, and test plans
• Present design status, analysis results, and program updates clearly and confidently to customers and internal stakeholders at design reviews and program milestones
• Collaborate with the EO Systems Engineering Manager and broader Payloads team to ensure the seeker integrates seamlessly with the spacecraft platform

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field (Master'spreferred)
• 7+ years of professional experience in electro-optical system design and development, withdemonstratedexperience across the full EO spectrum from VNIR through LWIR
• Experience as a system or subsystem Responsible Engineer, with ownership of requirements, integration, and performance verification for a complex EO system
• Demonstratedexpertisein radiometric analysis, signal chain performance modeling, and noise budgeting for EO sensor systems
• Experience with EO sensor calibration methodologies and on-orbit CONOPS development
• Familiarity with synthetic image generation tools and image processing techniques for model-based testing and algorithm development
• Experience generating technical documentation and presenting program status and analysis results to customers and stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience with seeker or homing sensor development for aerospace or defense applications
• Familiarity with optomechanical design and thermal modeling as applied to EO sensor systems
• Experience with stray light modeling tools (FRED, ASAP, or similar)
• Experience with space-qualified EO detector and focal plane array technologies across VNIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands
• Familiarity with GNC interface requirements for seeker-guided systems, including line-of-sight stabilization and tracking algorithms
• Experience working in a fast-paced, startup environment or a similarly dynamic setting

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—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.

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.

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