Chief Engineer, Kill Vehicle

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is seeking an exceptional Chief Engineer, Kill Vehicle to architect, develop, and lead advanced flight sciences across our next-generation missile defense program. This is not an incremental improvement effort—this is a generational technical challenge requiring breakthrough innovation in hypersonic flight control, terminal intercept dynamics, and autonomous engagement against evolving threats. 

You will be the chief technical authority responsible for building the analytical and experimental backbone that ensures our interceptors achieve precision, survivability, and mission success. Beyond architecture and design, you will lead the full program lifecycle—from rapid prototyping through continuous flight test campaigns to production transition and fielded capability. 

This role demands the caliber of technical leadership found on programs like Starship, SM-3 Block IIA, or Mars EDL—where first principles thinking, hardware-rich testing, and flawless execution are the only path to success. 

What Makes This Different 

Traditional missile defense programs take 12-15 years from concept to first intercept. We're moving at 1/3 that timeline while maintaining defense-grade rigor. This requires: 

• Commercial speed with no compromise on mission criticality—we test early, iterate rapidly, and learn from hardware 

• Continuous flight test cadence—multiple tests per year, not one per decade; we build learning into the program plan 

• Production-ready from day one—designs that can scale from prototype to rate production without fundamental redesign 

• First principles problem-solving—we're not bound by legacy approaches or incumbent architectures 

• Software and AI-first philosophy—autonomy, digital twins, and intelligent systems are core to our approach, not afterthoughts 

• Technical ownership without bureaucratic constraint—you define the architecture, test strategy, and production approach, not a committee 

• CI/CD software discipline for hardware programs— iteration, automation, and version control are first-class design tools, collapsing build-test-learn cycles the same way modern software teams do. The future of hardware development looks more like software: CI/CD pipelines, disciplined version control, and rapid iteration baked into the program.  

If you've been frustrated by the pace of traditional defense acquisition, this is your opportunity to prove there's a better way. 

Responsibilities 

Technical Authority & Architecture 

You will serve as the final technical authority across the missile defense portfolio, establishing and maintaining the technical baseline for all models, performance criteria, and test objectives. This includes: 

• Defining the flight sciences architecture spanning aerodynamics, guidance, navigation, control, DACS, seeker integration, and terminal intercept dynamics 

• Owning the technical integration strategy across propulsion, command-and-control, lethality, and discrimination subsystems 

• Establishing comprehensive modeling and simulation frameworks from low-fidelity raid-scale performance to high-fidelity 6-DOF terminal engagement 

• Leading risk identification and mitigation throughout development, serving as final authority on design trades and technical decisions 

• Conducting and overseeing all major technical reviews with internal teams and customer stakeholders 

Strategic Leadership & Roadmap 

You will shape the long-term technical roadmap in alignment with program strategy and U.S. Space Force / DoD mission needs: 

• Partnering with executive leadership to inform investment priorities, capture strategy, and customer engagement 

• Translating mission requirements into executable technical approaches that balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk 

• Defining development and qualification test strategies including wind tunnel campaigns, HWIL simulations, and flight test demonstrations 

• Engaging directly with DoD/USSF leadership and technical authorities to ensure alignment and advocacy for novel approaches 

• Representing True Anomaly as a technical thought leader in the missile defense and hypersonic intercept community 

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical ideas through precise writing, effective data visualization, and persuasive oral presentations to diverse stakeholders. 

Organization & Team Building 

You will build and lead a world-class, multidisciplinary flight sciences organization: 

• Recruiting, mentoring, and retaining exceptional talent in CFD, aerothermal analysis, GNC, trajectory optimization, and M&S 

• Establishing technical standards, processes, and reviews that enforce rigor while enabling rapid innovation 

• Growing the next generation of aerospace defense engineers through hands-on mentorship and technical leadership 

• Fostering a culture of intelligent risk-taking, hardware-rich testing, and rapid learning 
• Building an organization capable of operating at commercial speed with defense-grade discipline 

Program Development & Execution 

You will lead end-to-end program development from concept through fielded capability: 

• Driving rapid prototyping philosophy—hardware-rich development where we build to learn, test early, and iterate quickly 

• Establishing and executing continuous flight test campaigns to validate performance, uncover failure modes, and accelerate learning cycles 

• Leading integrated test campaigns including component testing, HWIL simulations, captive carry flights, and live intercept demonstrations 

• Defining production transition strategy including manufacturing processes, quality systems, supply chain qualification, and rate production scale-up 

• Ensuring seamless handoff from development to production while maintaining technical integrity and mission performance 

• Building production-ready designs from day one—no "throw it over the wall" development approaches 

Mission Assurance & Technical Authority 

You will ensure flawless execution across all phases of the program: 

• Serving as final authority on design decisions, technical trades, and risk acceptance 

• Ensuring safety, compliance, and mission-critical reliability throughout development, test, and deployment 

• Owning the critical path and proactively identifying and resolving technical obstacles before they become program risks 

• Making high-quality decisions under uncertainty and extreme timeline pressure 

• Conducting and overseeing all major technical reviews with internal teams and customer stakeholders 

• Delivering first intercept capability on a 3-year timeline—not the traditional 12-year defense acquisition cycle 

Basic Qualifications 

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field (focus in Guidance, Navigation & Control, flight dynamics, hypersonics, or missile defense preferred) 

• 20+ years of experience in aerospace flight sciences with demonstrated technical leadership on flagship missile defense, hypersonic vehicle, or kinetic intercept programs 

• Recognized technical authority in the kinetic intercept or missile defense community with a track record of defining novel technical approaches, not just executing existing playbooks 

• Deep technical expertise across multiple kill vehicle subsystems including:  

• Reentry vehicle aerodynamics and aerothermal environments 

• Hypersonic flight control and terminal intercept guidance 

• Divert and Attitude Control Systems (DACS) design and integration 

• Seeker integration, discrimination, and countermeasure rejection 

• Lethality modeling and hit-to-kill endgame physics 

• High-fidelity 6-DOF simulation and M&S architecture 

• Led multidisciplinary engineering teams of engineers spanning the entire vehicle stack (structures, propulsion, avionics, software) >$250M 

• Owned the technical baseline as Chief Engineer, Technical Director, or equivalent on a major vehicle development program that achieved operational capability 

• Led programs through full lifecycle: requirements derivation, development, prototyping, flight test, and production transition to fielded systems 

• Direct experience leading flight test campaigns with demonstrated ability to extract maximum learning from test data and drive rapid iteration 

• Exceptional strategic thinking: ability to connect technical architectures to program strategy, customer needs, and mission outcomes 

• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, mission-critical environments where execution speed and technical rigor are equally valued 

• Active TS/SCI clearance or demonstrated ability to obtain/reinstate clearance 

• U.S. Citizen eligible for required authorizations under ITAR/EAR regulations 

Preferred Qualifications 

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field (focus in Guidance, Navigation & Control, flight dynamics, hypersonics, or missile defense) 

• Patents, publications, or industry recognition in relevant technical domains (GNC, aerodynamics, intercept algorithms, DACS, discrimination) 

• Direct program experience on SM-3 (any block), GBI/EKV, THAAD, AEGIS, GPI, NGI, or similar exoatmospheric/endoatmospheric interceptor programs 

• Technical leadership on DARPA or rapid prototyping programs demonstrating accelerated timelines and intelligent risk-taking 

• Experience with AI/ML-enabled autonomy, reduced order and surrogate based modeling, digital twin architectures, and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approaches 

• Hands-on experience at commercial-speed organizations (SpaceX, Anduril, emerging defense tech) or led rapid prototyping efforts at traditional primes 

• Engagement experience with MDA, SDA, C2BMC, or related DoD/USSF missile defense stakeholders 

• Demonstrated success building and scaling technical organizations at the Director/VP level with strong retention and alumni networks 

• Active participation in technical community (AIAA, technical conferences, advisory boards) 

• Track record of hardware-rich test campaigns—builds to learn, not just to verify; demonstrated ability to execute rapid test cadences 

• Production transition experience: successfully scaled programs from prototyping to rate production while maintaining technical performance 

• Continuous flight test philosophy: executed multiple flight tests per year (not one test per decade) to accelerate learning and iterate designs 

• Active TS/SCI clearance with recent read-ons to relevant SAPs 

What "Exceptional" Looks Like for This Role 

We're not looking for a strong senior engineer from a prime contractor. We're looking for one of the top 20 people in the country who can do this work. If you're the right person, you likely: 

• Know both meanings for the acronym “FFT” 

• Are known by name in the missile defense or hypersonic intercept community for technical contributions 

• Have solved previously unsolvable problems that enabled breakthrough capability 

• Led the critical path on a program that changed the state of the art—and saw it through to fielded capability 

• Have led successful flight test campaigns with rapid iteration and demonstrated learning from test data 

• Successfully transitioned programs from prototyping to production while maintaining technical performance 

• Are regularly invited to speak at technical conferences or brief senior DoD/USSF leadership 

• Have built teams where your alumni are now technical leaders themselves 

• Can recruit A+ talent based on your reputation alone 

• Are frustrated by traditional defense bureaucracy and believe there's a better way 

• See this as a once-in-a-career opportunity to define the future of space superiority  

Compensation & Benefits 

Base Salary: Denver: $250,000 - $325,000, Long Beach: $255,000 - $330,000 

Total Compensation: 

• Significant equity participation in True Anomaly 

• Performance bonuses tied to program milestones 

• Comprehensive benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options 

• Generous PTO and paid holidays 

• 401K  

• Parental leave 

• Relocation assistance for the right candidate 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined based on technical depth, leadership scope, and track record of impact. For truly exceptional candidates, we are prepared to exceed the posted ranges. 

Work Environment & Requirements 

• Location: This role is based in Denver, CO with hybrid flexibility. Critical program work requires on-site presence. 

• Travel: Expect 20-30% travel for customer engagements, test campaigns, supplier visits, and technical conferences 

• Physical demands: Standard office environment with occasional lab/test facility visits 

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI required or ability to obtain/reinstate within 6 months of hire 
• ITAR: Must be U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) 

How to Apply 

This position will remain open until we find the right candidate. We're looking for exceptional, not available—if you're the right person, we'll move quickly and make this work. 

To apply, submit: 

1. Resume highlighting relevant program experience and technical contributions 

1. Cover letter addressing: What's the hardest technical problem you've solved, and why is now the right time to join True Anomaly? 

If you have questions about fit or clearance eligibility, reach out directly—we'd rather have the conversation than lose a great candidate to self-selection. 

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. 

If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. 

This is not an incremental role. This is a generational opportunity to define how missile defense is done in space. If you're ready for the hardest technical challenge of your career, we're ready to talk.