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Aerospace, Defense, Space Technology, SaaS

Perception Engineer, Missile Defense

Denver, COOnsiteFull Time$125,000–$270,000 /yrPosted 11 days ago

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Required skills

  • space-based missile defense
  • multi-band infrared
  • visible imagery
  • physical understanding
  • sunlight
  • shadow
  • Earth background
  • tracking filters
  • closely spaced objects
  • occlusion

Nice to have

  • aerospace engineering
  • missile defense programs
  • EO/IR sensor programs
  • signature modeling
  • focal-plane array characterization
  • NUC

Role summary

The Perception Engineer will architect and deploy perception systems for space-based missile defense, focusing on image processing, multi-object tracking, and discrimination. Responsibilities include designing and implementing algorithms using C++ and Python to interpret multi-band infrared and visible imagery, modeling physical phenomena, and ensuring algorithm trustworthiness through rigorous testing and validation. The role requires end-to-end ownership of the perception stack, from phenomenology and algorithm design to integration into flight software under strict power and timing constraints. This position is critical for defending the United States and its Allies, operating in a high-consequence environment.

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

    You will architect and deploy the perception systems that let space-based missile defense see, track and tell apart objects in space. Your algorithms will turn multi-band infrared and visible imagery into a physical understanding of each object. They will do it in sunlight and shadow, with Earth in the background. The tracking filters you design will hold custody of many closely spaced objects through occlusion and maneuvers. The physics you put into these algorithms, from radiometry and thermal behavior to optics and detector effects, is what makes the answer trustworthy. You will own the perception stack end to end: from phenomenology and algorithm design, through software- and hardware-in-the-loop validation, to flight software that runs on space-qualified processors under strict power and timing budgets. This is perception engineering where mistakes have consequences, where your code operates in vacuum, and where the systems you build defend the United States and its Allies.

    RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Drive the architecture for the image processing, multi-object tracking and discrimination pipelines for space-based missile defense
  • Design and implement multi-band EO/IR image processing in C++: non-uniformity correction, radiometric calibration, band registration, frame stacking, adaptive detection and PSF photometry
  • Develop physics-based features from first principles, from the thermal and optical signatures of each object
  • Model the phenomenology that drives the signatures: solar and Earth illumination, thermal response through sunlight and eclipse, viewing geometry, glints, and optics and detector effects
  • Design robust tracking for many closely spaced objects
  • Perform statistical analysis to characterize and verify algorithm performance, including Monte Carlo campaigns and error budgets
  • Test and verify your algorithms in software- and hardware-in-the-loop simulation with high-fidelity scene generation
  • Work with the software team to integrate your algorithms into flight software

    • QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's degree in physics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer science, or a similar discipline
  • Experienced with C/C++ and Python
  • 2+ years of experience implementing image processing, detection and tracking algorithms deployed in real-world systems
  • Working knowledge of radiometry and infrared phenomenology
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and solve complex problems with first principles approaches
  • Passion for spaceflight and advancing capabilities related to missile defense and space security
  • U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance

    • PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Master's or PhD in physics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a similar discipline
  • Experience with missile defense or EO/IR sensor programs
  • Deep technical expertise in one or more of the following: EO/IR phenomenology and signature modeling, radiometric calibration, thermal modeling, focal-plane array characterization (NUC, noise, bad pixels), nonlinear filtering and multi-object tracking (JPDA, MHT, IMM)
  • Experience with IR scene generation and sensor simulation, and validating algorithms against measured data
  • 2+ years of professional experience writing high-reliability, production C/C++ code

    • COMPENSATION

  • Base Salary: $125,000 - $270,000
  • 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 is an onsite role, we are seeking only candidates based near Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA.
  • 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.

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