Seeker Responsible Engineer

About the role

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.

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

QUALIFICATIONS

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

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

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

COMPENSATION

Base Salary: Denver: $155,000 - 220,000 | Long Beach: $165,000 - $230,000

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 —Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Long Beach.

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.