Director, Autonomous Systems

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., * 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.

• 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., * 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., * 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., * 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, Depending on the position, Long Wall may require the successful completion of a national security suitability screening in addition to its standard background check. Where required, the screening is conducted by Long Wall’s Facility Security Officer following offer acceptance and may include verification of any current or prior U.S. government security clearances or public trust positions. Information provided during the screening is used solely to determine suitability for the role and is held in confidence by Security. For positions subject to this requirement, any offer of employment is contingent upon a favorable suitability determination.