Chief Engineer, Long-Range Missile Systems

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantagedomain dominance. The companys products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN) empowering warfighters commercial air operators and border protection teams to act faster adapt rapidly and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors including 8VC Accel and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Washington D.C. San Francisco San Diego and London. For more information please visit.

Role Overview:

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.

Responsibilities

• 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

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors 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:

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

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 youre 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: 500employees and counting across 5 global offices

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.

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