Senior Systems Engineer

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA

401K & Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly is seeking Senior Aerospace Systems Engineers to design and integrate cutting-edge space systems. You will define requirements, lead trade studies, and guide cross‑functional teams across hardware and software boundaries to ensure mission success.

You will document objectives, perform risk analyses, and develop verification plans while collaborating with customers and government partners. This onsite role supports DoD and national defense initiatives from Centennial, CO or Long

Qualifications

• 8+ years full lifecycle experience leading a major subsystem through design, test, and verification.
• Strong technical leadership and systems architecture experience.
• Proven leadership in design, analysis, and verification on a major aerospace program.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with ability to lead technical trades.
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and coordinate across hardware and software boundaries.
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• 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, ensuring alignment with technical and programmatic constraints.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, and feasibility assessments to ensure optimal system architecture design.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and customers.
• Develop system-level integration and verification plans, conducting 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.
• Conduct system performance analysis, including reliability, safety, and mission effectiveness, under various environmental conditions.
• Assess mission success criteria and operational risks and propose mitigation strategies.
• Identify and analyze mission risks related to complex space missions, including collision risks and operational uncertainties.
• Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans for safe and reliable mission execution.

Skills

Subsystem leadership

Systems architecture

Trade studies

Cross-functional leadership

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Advanced degree in Aerospace/Mechanical/Systems Engineering

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

We are seeking Senior Aerospace Systems Engineers to join our team in developing and integrating cutting‑edge aerospace and defense systems. In this role you will play a critical role in defining, analyzing, and ensuring the successful implementation of mission, element, and subsystem requirements across complex, mission‑critical space systems, supporting national defense initiatives, and advancing technologies in autonomous space operations. You will support requirements development, traceability, and verification across multiple vehicles and systems. You work closely with cross‑functional teams while conducting impact analyses for changes, ensuring design integrity across the system, supporting integration and test planning, performing risk assessments, and providing inputs for design reviews.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Systems Engineering team supports multiple programs and disciplines. We are seeking talented, flexible engineers with a desire to develop varying skillsets. Our Senior Systems Engineers begin as focals for specific disciplines supporting the functional team across multiple programs. We are seeking candidates who have domain expertise with the following space vehicle subsystems to act as subsystem Systems Engineers:

• Command and Data Handling
• Communications
• Cyber/Crypto
• Electrical Power
• Flight Software
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control
• Mechanisms
• Payload Integration
• Propulsion
• Structures / Harness
• Thermal Control

Each focal has a varied scope depending on the subsystem being supported. As a member of this team, you may:

• 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, ensuring alignment with technical and programmatic constraints.
• Lead system trade studies, performance evaluations, and feasibility assessments to ensure optimal system architecture design.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and customers.
• Develop system‑level integration and verification plans, conducting 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.
• Conduct system performance analysis, including reliability, safety, and mission effectiveness, under various environmental conditions.
• Assess mission success criteria and operational risks and propose mitigation strategies.
• Identify and analyze mission risks related to complex space missions, including collision risks and operational uncertainties.
• Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans for safe and reliable mission execution.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years full lifecycle experience leading a major subsystem through design, test, and verification
• Strong technical leadership and systems architecture experience
• Proven leadership in design, analysis, and verification on a major aerospace program
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with ability to lead technical trades
• Ability to lead cross‑functional technical teams and coordinate across hardware and software boundaries
• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP U.S. government security clearance.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
• Strong track record leading cross‑functional engineering teams and managing design‑to‑delivery cycles
• Demonstrated expertise with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Background in range certification, test readiness reviews, and safety boards
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Experience in defense or classified space missions.
• Familiarity with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA mission standards and processes

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $130,000-$195,000

• 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

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance
• Work Location: this a fully onsite position based out of our Centennial, CO or Long Beach, CA office
• Work environment is in a standard office, working at a desk or in a production factory.
• Physical demands may include frequent standing, sitting, walking, bending, and lifting or carrying items up to 20lbs.

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.