Senior Payloads Engineer, Systems

Location: Long Beach, CA or Denver, CO

Department: Payloads Engineering

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is seeking a talented and organized Senior Payloads Systems Engineer to serve as the primary technical and programmatic interface between the Payloads engineering team and the Program Office. You will be the connective tissue that keeps the team aligned, on schedule, and delivering against customer and program requirements. You will own requirements decomposition and flow-down, drive ICD development, lead technical and programmatic trade studies, and represent Payloads team interests in wider engineering forums. You are equally comfortable parsing a customer specification and facilitating a sprint planning session — and you bring the technical credibility to earn the trust of both engineers and program managers. This is a high-visibility role that directly shapes how the Payloads team executes and grows. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own requirements decomposition and flow-down across the Payloads engineering team, ensuring traceability from customer and program-level requirements to subsystem and component specifications 
• Develop, maintain, and negotiate interface control documents (ICDs) between Payloads subsystems and broader spacecraft systems 
• Serve as the primary interface between the Payloads team and the Program Office, translating technical status, risks, and needs into clear programmatic communication 
• Interpret and adjudicate customer specifications, identifying areas of risk, ambiguity, or non-compliance and driving resolution with engineering and program stakeholders 
• Lead technical and programmatic trade studies, synthesizing inputs from across the Payloads team and producing clear recommendations 
• Assist the Payloads team leadership in roadmap planning, ensuring near-term deliverables and long-term development priorities are clearly defined and resourced 
• Facilitate sprint planning, milestone tracking, and schedule development in coordination with the Program Office, keeping the Payloads team on track and dependencies visible 
• Represent Payloads team interests in cross-functional engineering meetings, design reviews, and customer engagements 
• Identify and track technical and programmatic risks, driving mitigation plans in collaboration with the engineering team and Program Office 
• Develop and maintain Payloads program documentation including technical plans, schedules, review packages, and status reports 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred) 
• 5+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, payload engineering, or a related technical program role 
• Demonstrated experience with requirements decomposition, flow-down, and traceability management 
• Experience developing and managing interface control documents across complex, multi-discipline engineering programs 
• Strong understanding of spacecraft payload systems and the ability to engage credibly with engineers across EO/IR, mechanisms, RF, electronics, and software disciplines 
• Experience supporting or leading programmatic activities including schedule development, milestone tracking, and sprint or agile planning 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to convey technical information clearly to both engineering and program management audiences 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo, Rhapsody, or similar 
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Confluence 
• Experience working directly with government or defense customers and interpreting military or defense acquisition specifications 
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies applied to hardware engineering programs 
• Experience working in a fast-paced, startup environment or a similarly dynamic setting 

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $150,000 - $220,000
• 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

• Ability to maintain or obtain TS//SCI clearance 
• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Long Beach. While we observe a hybrid work environment, most work must be done onsite.
• 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