Chief Systems Engineer, Missile Defense
About The Position
A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability. OUR MISSION The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all. 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 The Chief Systems Engineer is responsible for the end-to-end technical integrity of the Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) system, owning the system architecture and serving as the final technical authority for system-level requirements interpretation, allocation, and traceability. This role ensures requirements are testable, verifiable, and aligned with mission objectives and customer intent. The Chief Systems Engineer leads technical integration across the booster, kill vehicle, ground systems, space and host-vehicle interfaces, resolving cross-element technical conflicts and ensuring subsystem designs collectively meet system performance, reliability, and safety objectives. The role owns the system-level verification and validation strategy, including ground, flight, and on-orbit test progression, and approves system-level test objectives, success criteria, and requirement creditability. The Chief Systems Engineer chairs system-level test readiness reviews, leads post-test technical assessments, and certifies technical readiness to proceed between major program phases. The Chief Systems Engineer identifies and manages system-level technical risks and provides authoritative system-level analysis during anomalies or mishaps in support of Mission Assurance–led investigations. The role certifies corrective actions and technical readiness for return-to-test or return-to-flight. The Chief Systems Engineer provides technical leadership to Chief Engineers and integrated product teams and serves as the primary system-level technical interface to Program Management, Mission Assurance, and customer technical authorities, maintaining independence of technical judgment while enabling informed programmatic decisions.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or related field (Master’s or PhD strongly preferred).
- 15+ years of experience in complex aerospace or defense systems development.
- Demonstrated experience as a lead or chief systems engineer on: Missile defense systems Space systems Highly integrated flight-test–driven programs
- Deep understanding of: Systems engineering lifecycle Verification and validation Flight and ground test campaigns Safety-critical system design
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams under high consequence conditions.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with missile defense, interceptor, or space weapon systems.
- Direct involvement in ground test, flight test, or on-orbit demonstrations.
- Experience interfacing with US Government customers (e.g., USSF, MDA, DoD).
- Prior participation in anomaly resolution or mishap investigations.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for the end-to-end technical integrity of the Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) system
- Owning the system architecture and serving as the final technical authority for system-level requirements interpretation, allocation, and traceability
- Ensuring requirements are testable, verifiable, and aligned with mission objectives and customer intent
- Leads technical integration across the booster, kill vehicle, ground systems, space and host-vehicle interfaces
- Resolving cross-element technical conflicts and ensuring subsystem designs collectively meet system performance, reliability, and safety objectives
- Owns the system-level verification and validation strategy, including ground, flight, and on-orbit test progression
- Approves system-level test objectives, success criteria, and requirement creditability
- Chairs system-level test readiness reviews, leads post-test technical assessments, and certifies technical readiness to proceed between major program phases
- Identifies and manages system-level technical risks and provides authoritative system-level analysis during anomalies or mishaps in support of Mission Assurance–led investigations
- Certifies corrective actions and technical readiness for return-to-test or return-to-flight
- Provides technical leadership to Chief Engineers and integrated product teams and serves as the primary system-level technical interface to Program Management, Mission Assurance, and customer technical authorities
- Maintaining independence of technical judgment while enabling informed programmatic decisions
Benefits
- Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
