Mechanical Engineer Space Based Interceptors (Senior - Staff)

YOUR MISSION

The next generation of Space Based Interceptors demands hardware that performs flawlessly at hypersonic speeds survives extreme thermal and aerodynamic environments and delivers precision intercept against the most advanced threats ever fielded. True Anomaly is building that hardware — and we are looking for engineers who want to be part of it. 

As a Mechanical Engineer at True Anomaly you will play a critical role in designing and developing flight hardware for some of the most technically demanding programs in the defense aerospace industry. From interceptor systems and kill vehicles to hypersonic flight vehicles you will engineer mechanical systems that must perform flawlessly in extreme thermal aerodynamic and high-g environments — building the hardware that matters most when it counts. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as technical authority and subject matter expert in Space Based Interceptors and hypersonic vehicle mechanical design providing engineering leadership across interceptor kill vehicle and hypersonic flight vehicle programs.  
• Own and drive the full mechanical architecture of flight vehicle structures and systems — from system-level requirements definition and concept development through qualification flight certification and lessons learned capture.  
• Define structural design philosophy sizing criteria and margins of safety for flight vehicle primary and secondary structures across high-dynamic-pressure high-g maneuver and thermally coupled hypersonic flight environments.  
• Lead the design and development of guidance navigation and control (GN&C) hardware and seeker packaging architectures establishing integration standards for precision optical and RF sensor assemblies within highly constrained kill vehicle and interceptor envelopes.  
• Own the thermal protection system (TPS) design strategy for hypersonic and re-entry flight vehicles including material selection panel and tile integration architecture aeroheating-driven structural trades and qualification approach for ablative ceramic and composite TPS systems.  
• Lead mechanical integration of propulsion subsystems including solid rocket motor structural interfaces divert and attitude control system (DACS) packaging nozzle and TVC structural design and cross-discipline coordination with propulsion engineers to ensure system-level compliance.  
• Define and maintain vehicle-level mechanical interface control documents (ICDs) mass properties reports and configuration baselines across program milestones.  
• Chair and lead formal vehicle design reviews (SRR PDR CDR TRR FRR) and drive closure of technical risks RFIs and subsystem interface actions across the engineering team.  
• Establish and enforce GD&T standards drawing conventions and CAD model management practices across the mechanical engineering team.  
• Collaborate with systems engineering aerodynamics thermal GN&C and propulsion teams to derive and flow down mechanical requirements perform requirements verification and support IV&V activities.  
• Develop and approve structural and environmental qualification and acceptance test plans witness testing and resolve anomalies and non-conformances against program requirements.  
• Leverage spacecraft and space environment design expertise — including precision mechanisms electronics packaging and launch load structural design — to inform cross-domain solutions and bring asymmetric technical advantage to Space Based Interceptors and hypersonic programs.  
• Provide technical mentorship and career development guidance to junior and mid-level mechanical engineers building team capability and domain expertise in Space Based Interceptors and hypersonic systems.  
• Partner with program management and business development to support proposal efforts schedule and resource planning and new program captures in Space Based Interceptors and hypersonic domains. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline.  
• 7–15+ years of professional experience in mechanical design with the majority spent on Space Based Interceptors hypersonic vehicle or high-performance flight system programs.  
• Demonstrated expertise in flight vehicle structural design for high-dynamic-pressure thermally coupled and high-g flight environments including experience across multiple interceptor kill vehicle or re-entry system programs.  
• Extensive hands-on experience with guidance and seeker packaging architecture including precision optical or RF sensor integration alignment and retention design vibration isolation and EMI management within kill vehicle or interceptor envelopes.  
• Deep experience with TPS design and high-temperature materials including ablative ceramic and composite systems and ownership of TPS qualification approaches for hypersonic or re-entry applications.  
• Proven experience leading mechanical integration of propulsion subsystems including solid rocket motor interfaces DACS packaging and TVC structural design with full cross-discipline coordination responsibility.  
• Expert-level proficiency in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks including complex multi-subsystem vehicle assemblies configuration management and CAD team leadership.  
• Mastery of GD&T principles with experience defining and enforcing drawing and model standards across a program or organization.  
• Proven track record of leading flight vehicle hardware programs from concept through test or flight certification including full ownership of technical risk and schedule.  
• Experience chairing or leading formal vehicle design reviews at the subsystem or full vehicle level.  
• Strong familiarity with relevant defense and aerospace standards (e.g. MIL-SPEC MIL-STD-810 MIL-STD-1540 AIAA S-110) and their application to design analysis and test.  
• Experience with configuration management MES and PLM tools (e.g. TeamCenter Windchill) at a program leadership level.  
• Excellent written verbal and presentation skills with demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical topics to executive program and customer audiences. 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.  
• 10+ years of experience specifically in interceptor systems kill vehicles or hypersonic flight vehicle mechanical design with multiple programs delivered to flight test or operational fielding.  
• Experience as a lead mechanical engineer or chief engineer on a Space Based Interceptors or hypersonic program with ownership of vehicle-level mechanical architecture and cross-subsystem integration.  
• Deep experience with kill vehicle or hit-to-kill interceptor hardware including ultra-mass-constrained structures precision seeker alignment under vibration and thermal loading and flight-critical deployment or divert mechanism design.  
• Experience with hypersonic flight vehicle aeroshell design including TPS panel integration structural joint design under aeroheating and ablative material qualification.  
• Background in spacecraft or satellite mechanical design with the ability to apply space environment principles — precision mechanisms electronics packaging launch load structures — as cross-domain technical leverage on Space Based Interceptors and hypersonic programs.  
• Familiarity with structural analysis and FEA methods (e.g. NASTRAN Ansys) and demonstrated ability to guide and review analysis performed by the broader engineering team.  
• Experience supporting business development proposal writing and new program captures in missile defense or hypersonic domains including DARPA MDA or Air Force Research Laboratory programs.  
• Background working in a startup or high-growth aerospace and defense company with experience scaling engineering teams and processes under program constraints.  
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or TS/SCI) or ability and willingness to obtain one. 

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary:  $125000 - $255000
• 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 

What We Do

Space was once the quietest place in the universe. Now it's crowded contested and confrontational.  We are True Anomaly: the only defense company focused exclusively on space defense. Founded in 2022 by ex-U.S. Space Force members True Anomaly designs and builds advanced systems for space superiority: agile and powerful spacecraft platforms mission software engineered for unmatched command and control and payloads tailored for precision sensing and effects.    True Anomaly is headquartered in Centennial CO with regional offices in Colorado Springs CO Long Beach CA and Washington D.C.  We are hiring and seeking exceptional talent to join True Anomaly from any technical industry or background to bring unique talents perspective and solutions. If you embrace complexity lead instead of follow showcase integrity over ego take ownership for outcomes and measure success by impact we want to hear from you.

Why Work With Us

True Anomaly exists to enable a secure stable and sustainable space environment for the US its allies and partners. We design and build spacecraft and software solutions for space superiority. If you are ready to contribute to the future of space defense we’d love to hear from you.

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