Director, Space Vehicle Chief Engineers
True Anomaly
$230,000 - $315,000 / year
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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.
BENEFITS & PERKS*
- Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
- Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
- Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
- And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
- Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.
*Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles
YOUR MISSION
True Anomaly is seeking a highly accomplished Chief Engineer to build, develop and lead a team of Chief Engineers responsible for the technical execution of our next-generation space vehicle programs. In this role, you will serve as the senior technical authority across the space vehicle portfolio, setting engineering standards, cultivating technical leadership talent, and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across multiple concurrent programs. You will shape how chief engineering is practiced at True Anomaly — instilling rigor, accountability, and a culture of sound engineering judgment that scales with the company.
RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to the responsibilities above, as the Director of this team, you will:
- Partner with Program Managers and senior leadership to align technical strategy with programmatic and business objectives across the portfolio
- Drive consistency in technical baseline management, design assurance, and readiness review practices across all programs
- Evaluate and calibrate the balance of rigor and analysis depth appropriate to the maturity and risk posture of each program
- Represent the Chief Engineering function in customer, stakeholder, and executive engagements, communicating technical status, risks, and strategies with clarity
- Recruit, grow, and retain top engineering talent, building organizational depth in systems engineering and technical leadership
- Identify and resolve cross-program integration challenges, shared risks, and technical dependencies that span multiple vehicles or subsystems
QUALIFICATIONS
- 18+ years of full lifecycle aerospace or space systems experience, including leading major vehicle programs through design, test, and verification
- Demonstrated experience managing and developing technical leaders, including Chief Engineers or equivalent senior roles
- Deep systems engineering background with the ability to provide credible technical oversight across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
- Proven ability to set technical strategy and engineering culture at an organizational level
- Strong track record translating business and mission objectives into engineering execution across a portfolio of programs
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related field
- U.S. Citizen eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
- Experience as a Chief Engineer on a major defense or classified space program
- Demonstrated expertise establishing or scaling systems engineering organizations
- Background in range certification, test readiness reviews, and safety boards
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Familiarity with DoD and NASA mission standards, processes, and acquisition frameworks
- Experience working with government agencies, primes, or subcontractors on space missions
COMPENSATION
- Base Salary: $230,000-$315,000
- 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
- Work Location—this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO.
- Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
- Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.
This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite
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 know.
To protect candidates and our company from application fraud and impersonation, we use third-party tools to verify applicant identity and detect fraudulent applications. Learn more in our Privacy Notice.
Benefits
- Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
- Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
- Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
- And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
- Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.
- Partner with Program Managers and senior leadership to align technical strategy with programmatic and business objectives across the portfolio
- Drive consistency in technical baseline management, design assurance, and readiness review practices across all programs
- Evaluate and calibrate the balance of rigor and analysis depth appropriate to the maturity and risk posture of each program
- Represent the Chief Engineering function in customer, stakeholder, and executive engagements, communicating technical status, risks, and strategies with clarity
- Recruit, grow, and retain top engineering talent, building organizational depth in systems engineering and technical leadership
- Identify and resolve cross-program integration challenges, shared risks, and technical dependencies that span multiple vehicles or subsystems
- 18+ years of full lifecycle aerospace or space systems experience, including leading major vehicle programs through design, test, and verification
- Demonstrated experience managing and developing technical leaders, including Chief Engineers or equivalent senior roles
- Deep systems engineering background with the ability to provide credible technical oversight across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
- Proven ability to set technical strategy and engineering culture at an organizational level
- Strong track record translating business and mission objectives into engineering execution across a portfolio of programs
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related field
- U.S. Citizen eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance
- Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering
- Experience as a Chief Engineer on a major defense or classified space program
- Demonstrated expertise establishing or scaling systems engineering organizations
- Background in range certification, test readiness reviews, and safety boards
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Familiarity with DoD and NASA mission standards, processes, and acquisition frameworks
- Experience working with government agencies, primes, or subcontractors on space missions
- Base Salary: $230,000-$315,000
- Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave
- Work Location —this role will be fully onsite at our GravityWorks factory in Centennial, CO.
- Work environment —the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
- Physical demands —the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.
About this role
Leading a team of Chief Engineers at True Anomaly means owning the technical strategy and execution across a portfolio of autonomous spacecraft and space vehicle programs serving U.S. defense and allied interests. You would set engineering standards, manage technical baselines and design assurance practices, and serve as the senior technical authority representing the Chief Engineering function to customers, stakeholders, and executives. This is a role that shapes how rigorous, scalable engineering culture gets built at a growing company operating in a high-stakes domain.
The position calls for someone with 18+ years in aerospace or space systems, including hands-on experience leading major vehicle programs through their full lifecycle. You need deep systems engineering credibility across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, plus a proven track record recruiting and developing technical leaders. The ability to translate business objectives into engineering execution across multiple concurrent programs, identify cross-program risks and dependencies, and communicate complex technical status clearly to senior leadership are core to the job.
Based in Denver at True Anomaly's GravityWorks facility, this is a full-time, in-office role with a salary range of $230,000 to $315,000 plus equity and standard benefits. You must be a U.S. citizen eligible for DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP clearance. Prior experience as a Chief Engineer on a major defense or classified space program, an advanced degree in a relevant engineering field, and familiarity with DoD and NASA standards would strengthen your candidacy.
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Pay for this role
$230,000 to $315,000 per year
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