Director, Autonomous SystemsDESCRIPTION Long Wall is seeking a Director of Autonomous Systems to lead the software, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), autonomy, and simulation capabilities that underpin the Cyclops interceptor and RSX target vehicle programs.
This leader will own the technical strategy and execution required to transform mission objectives into reliable, flight-ready systems. The role combines deep technical leadership with team building and cross-functional execution, spanning algorithms, modeling and simulation, embedded software, perception, autonomy, and vehicle-level integration.
Successful candidates will know how to move quickly without compromising engineering rigor. They will guide system-level trades, establish scalable technical foundations, and help teams deliver exceptional performance using cost-effective, producible hardware. In hit-to-kill missile defense, every millisecond matters. This role offers the opportunity to build the team and technology responsible for making those milliseconds count.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- Own the architecture, development, integration, verification, and flight performance of Long Wall's autonomous systems, including GNC, flight software, perception, mission algorithms, and modeling and simulation.
- Translate mission objectives into system requirements, technical roadmaps, interface definitions, verification plans, and measurable performance criteria.
- Build robust software and simulation infrastructure that enables rapid development, testing, iteration, and deployment of flight-critical capabilities.
- Lead the development and validation of high-performance guidance, navigation, control, trajectory-planning, estimation, perception, and autonomy algorithms.
- Apply modern computing, perception, and autonomy techniques to solve demanding problems at the tactical edge.
- Establish high-fidelity modeling and simulation capabilities that support design trades, hardware- and software-in-the-loop testing, mission analysis, and flight readiness.
- Make disciplined system-level trades across performance, reliability, cost, schedule, producibility, and computational constraints.
- Partner closely with systems, avionics, sensing, propulsion, mechanical, test, manufacturing, and program teams to deliver integrated vehicle capability.
- Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical leaders.
- Set a high bar for technical rigor, clear decision-making, rapid learning, and end-to-end ownership.
- Identify and retire technical risk through analysis, simulation, prototyping, ground testing, and flight testing.
- Communicate technical decisions, risks, priorities, and program status clearly to engineering teams and company leadership.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
- 8+ years of experience in the development of aircraft, autonomous vehicles, missiles, spacecraft, or similar vehicles.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams through the development, integration, test, or operation of complex, safety-critical systems.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:- Deep expertise in at least two of the following areas:
- Guidance, navigation, and control for aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, or similar systems.
- Development and validation of GNC algorithms, vehicle models, estimators, or flight software.
- Modeling, simulation, mission analysis, and system-performance evaluation.
- Perception, autonomy, image processing, target tracking, or sensor fusion for closed-loop applications.
- Real-time or embedded software for flight-critical systems.
- Trajectory design, optimization, or intercept analysis.
- Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, estimation, control theory, and trajectory analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to simplify complex technical problems and drive them to reliable, testable solutions.
- Experience making and communicating system-level technical trades across multiple engineering disciplines.
- Ability to provide hands-on technical direction while building accountability and ownership within a growing team.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical topics to varied audiences.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:- Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.
- Experience with ballistic missile defense, interceptors, launch vehicles, spacecraft, hypersonic systems, or other high-performance flight vehicles.
- Proficiency with modeling, simulation, and analysis environments such as MATLAB and Simulink.
- Proficiency in one or more relevant programming languages, such as C, C++, Python, or FORTRAN.
- Experience developing or analyzing interception guidance and control systems.
- Experience developing perception, autonomy, image-processing, target-tracking, or sensor-fusion solutions.
- Experience with control systems for hypersonic or exo-atmospheric flight regimes.
- Experience implementing deterministic, real-time software in resource-constrained or tactical environments.
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing and simulation infrastructure.
- Proficiency in trajectory planning, trajectory optimization, mission design, or related tools such as POST2.
- Experience supporting launch-day, flight-test, or on-orbit operations, including launch constraints and loads or GNC capability evaluation.
- Demonstrated success leading small, highly technical teams in fast-moving development environments.
- Experience transitioning advanced algorithms or software from simulation through integration, test, and flight.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:- This position requires a national security suitability screening following offer acceptance.
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
- Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
$220,000 - $290,000 a year
The compensation range for this role is $220,000 - $290,000/yr
This is the lowest to highest compensation range we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.
In addition to base pay and equity, we offer:
- Heavily employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Long Wall paid life insurance and LTD coverage
- 4% 401k match
- Student loan repayment assistance program
- Paid parental leave
- Family planning assistance program
- Long Wall paid financial wellness program
- Paid time off for non-exempt employees and flexible vacation policy for exempt employees
ITAR RequirementThis position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.
