Director, Autonomous Systems

Long Wall•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

Long Wall Company is seeking a Director of Autonomous Systems to lead the software, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), autonomy, and simulation capabilities supporting the Cyclops interceptor and RSX target vehicle programs. The director will own the technical strategy and execution needed to turn mission objectives into reliable, flight-ready systems. The role combines technical leadership, team building, and cross-functional execution across algorithms, modeling and simulation, embedded software, perception, autonomy, and vehicle-level integration. The successful candidate will guide system-level trade-offs, establish scalable technical foundations, and help teams deliver high performance using cost-effective, producible hardware while maintaining engineering rigor. The role includes recruiting and developing a multidisciplinary team and advancing technology and systems for hit-to-kill missile defense. The position typically works in an office environment and may require travel up to 25% of the time. It requires a national security suitability screening after offer acceptance and access to export-controlled information; U.S. person status is required. Compensation is listed at $220,000–$290,000 per year, in addition to equity and the benefits described in the posting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
At least 8 years of experience developing aircraft, autonomous vehicles, missiles, spacecraft, or similar vehicles.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams through development, integration, testing, or operation of complex, safety-critical systems.
Deep expertise in at least two of the following: GNC for aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, or similar systems; development and validation of GNC algorithms, vehicle models, estimators, or flight software; modeling, simulation, mission analysis, and system-performance evaluation; perception, autonomy, image processing, target tracking, or sensor fusion for closed-loop applications; real-time or embedded software for flight-critical systems; or trajectory design, optimization, or intercept analysis.
Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, estimation, control theory, and trajectory analysis.
Demonstrated ability to simplify complex technical problems and develop reliable, testable solutions.
Experience making and communicating system-level technical trade-offs across multiple engineering disciplines.
Ability to provide hands-on technical direction while building accountability and ownership within a growing team.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical topics to varied audiences.
U.S. person status, as defined in the posting, is required for access to information protected by U.S. export control laws.
Ability to use a computer to complete assignments.
Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence.
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
Ability to complete a national security suitability screening following offer acceptance.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.
Experience with ballistic missile defense, interceptors, launch vehicles, spacecraft, hypersonic systems, or other high-performance flight vehicles.
Proficiency with modeling, simulation, and analysis environments such as MATLAB and Simulink.
Proficiency in relevant programming languages such as C, C++, Python, or FORTRAN.
Experience developing or analyzing interception guidance and control systems.
Experience developing perception, autonomy, image-processing, target-tracking, or sensor-fusion solutions.
Experience with control systems for hypersonic or exo-atmospheric flight regimes.
Experience implementing deterministic, real-time software in resource-constrained or tactical environments.
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing and simulation infrastructure.
Proficiency in trajectory planning, trajectory optimization, or mission design, or with related tools such as POST2.
Experience supporting launch-day, flight-test, or on-orbit operations, including launch constraints and loads or GNC capability evaluation.
Demonstrated success leading small, highly technical teams in fast-moving development environments.
Experience transitioning advanced algorithms or software from simulation through integration, testing, and flight.

Responsibilities

Own the architecture, development, integration, verification, and flight performance of autonomous systems, including GNC, flight software, perception, mission algorithms, and modeling and simulation.
Translate mission objectives into system requirements, technical roadmaps, interface definitions, verification plans, and measurable performance criteria.
Build software and simulation infrastructure to enable rapid development, testing, iteration, and deployment of flight-critical capabilities.
Lead development and validation of guidance, navigation, control, trajectory-planning, estimation, perception, and autonomy algorithms.
Apply modern computing, perception, and autonomy techniques to demanding problems at the tactical edge.
Establish high-fidelity modeling and simulation capabilities for design trades, hardware- and software-in-the-loop testing, mission analysis, and flight readiness.
Make system-level trades across performance, reliability, cost, schedule, producibility, and computational constraints.
Partner with systems, avionics, sensing, propulsion, mechanical, test, manufacturing, and program teams to deliver integrated vehicle capability.
Recruit, develop, and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical leaders.
Promote technical rigor, clear decision-making, rapid learning, and end-to-end ownership.
Identify and reduce technical risk through analysis, simulation, prototyping, ground testing, and flight testing.
Communicate technical decisions, risks, priorities, and program status to engineering teams and company leadership.