Seeker Responsible Engineer

True Anomaly•Long Beach, CA

2d•$155,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

Seeker Responsible Engineer 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.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field (Master's preferred)
7+ years of professional experience in electro-optical system design and development, with demonstrated experience 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
Demonstrated expertise in 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

Nice To Haves

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

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 and component specifications, 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 to allocate signal, noise, and margin across the sensor design, validating that performance predictions meet mission requirements
Develop and maintain a 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 and maintain technical 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