Chief Engineer, Long-Range Missile Systems

Responsibilities

• CHAOS is seeking a Chief Engineer to own the technical direction of our long range missile program, from concept and architecture through qualification, flight test, and production transition. You will lead a multidisciplinary engineering team and be the senior technical authority across airframe, guidance, propulsion, integration, and test. This is a build-and-fly environment where you will be accountable for getting real hardware flying.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for missile system architecture, requirements, and design decisions
• Lead system-level trade studies, technical risk management, and design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR)
• Direct integration of airframe, guidance and navigation, propulsion, and avionics subsystems
• Own system verification and validation, including test planning and flight test readiness
• Provide technical leadership across mechanical, electrical, software, firmware, and systems teams, and mentor senior engineers
• Partner with program management, manufacturing, and customers to translate mission needs into executable technical plans
• Drive configuration control and the transition from prototype to production and fielding

Preferred

Master's degree or higher

• Current or recent DoD TOP SECRET security clearance; eligibility for SAP and/or SCI indoc.
• Experience with a prime integrator or in a fast-moving defense startup

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience developing missile, munition, or high-TRL flight systems, including technical leadership of a program or major subsystem
• Demonstrated experience taking a system through full lifecycle development, including flight test
• Detailed understanding of tactical aircraft carriage environments and missile employment envelopes
• Intuitive knowledge of propulsion systems and airframe controls as well as guidance/navigation techniques for long range strike systems

Detailed understanding of target phenomenology and defeat mechanisms

• Strong command of systems engineering practice and DoD standards for safety, environments, and test
• Current or recent DoD SECRET clearance

Preferred Requirements

• Prior role as Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or Technical Director on a fielded missile program
• Detailed understanding of ground launcher and shipboard integration environments
• Full grasp of the long-range kill chain starting at intelligence collection, mission planning, pre-launch and post-launch mission execution
• Why CHAOS?

Health Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company

Additional benefits

: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more

Our Perks

Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code

Compensation Components

Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses

Team Growth

500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices

Salary Range: $220,000 - $300,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.