Long Wall

Produces hypersonic testbeds and defense interceptors

Director, Autonomous Systems

Engineering LeadershipPosted on Nov 6

Full-timeLong Beach, CA, USA$220k - $290k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is required.
At least 8 years of experience in developing aircraft, autonomous vehicles, missiles, spacecraft, or similar vehicles is required.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams through the development, integration, test, or operation of complex, safety-critical systems is required.
Deep expertise in at least two of the following areas is required: guidance, navigation, and control for aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, autonomous vehicles, or similar systems; development and validation of guidance, navigation, and control 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; or trajectory design, optimization, or intercept analysis.
A strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, estimation, control theory, and trajectory analysis is required.
The ability to simplify complex technical problems and drive them to reliable, testable solutions is required.
Experience making and communicating system-level technical trades across multiple engineering disciplines is required.
The ability to provide hands-on technical direction while building accountability and ownership within a growing team is required.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical topics to varied audiences, are required.
US person status, including US citizenship, US permanent residency, granted US asylum status, or admission in US refugee status, is required for access to export-controlled information.
The position requires a national security suitability screening following offer acceptance.
The employee must be able to use a computer to complete assignments and communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence.

Responsibilities

Own the architecture, development, integration, verification, and flight performance of autonomous systems, including guidance, navigation, and control, 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 for rapid development, testing, iteration, and deployment of flight-critical capabilities.
Lead 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 problems at the tactical edge.
Establish high-fidelity modeling and simulation capabilities for design trades, hardware- and software-in-the-loop testing, mission analysis, and flight readiness.
Make system-level trades across performance, reliability, cost, schedule, producibility, and computational constraints.
Partner with systems, avionics, sensing, propulsion, mechanical, test, manufacturing, and program teams to deliver integrated vehicle capability.
Recruit, develop, and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical leaders.
Set standards for technical rigor, decision-making, learning, and end-to-end ownership.
Identify and reduce technical risk through analysis, simulation, prototyping, ground testing, and flight testing.
Communicate technical decisions, risks, priorities, and program status to engineering teams and company leadership.
Travel up to 25% of the time.

Desired Qualifications

A master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline is preferred.
Experience with ballistic missile defense, interceptors, launch vehicles, spacecraft, hypersonic systems, or other high-performance flight vehicles is preferred.
Proficiency with modeling, simulation, and analysis environments such as MATLAB and Simulink is preferred.
Proficiency in one or more relevant programming languages, such as C, C++, Python, or FORTRAN, is preferred.
Experience developing or analyzing interception guidance and control systems is preferred.
Experience developing perception, autonomy, image-processing, target-tracking, or sensor-fusion solutions is preferred.
Experience with control systems for hypersonic or exo-atmospheric flight regimes is preferred.
Experience implementing deterministic, real-time software in resource-constrained or tactical environments is preferred.
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing and simulation infrastructure is preferred.
Proficiency in trajectory planning, trajectory optimization, mission design, or related tools such as POST2 is preferred.
Experience supporting launch-day, flight-test, or on-orbit operations, including launch constraints and loads or guidance, navigation, and control capability evaluation, is preferred.
Demonstrated success leading small, highly technical teams in fast-moving development environments is preferred.
Experience transitioning advanced algorithms or software from simulation through integration, test, and flight is preferred.

Salary Range: 220000 to 290000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. We specialize in ballistic missile defense and are developing Cyclops, a low-cost, mass-producible interceptor. We also produce containerized launchers and offer low-cost targets for threat replication. The future of global security depends on defensive technology that redefines cost, magazine depth, and distribution to deter and defend against evolving threats. Join us.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

Mission-Driven Problem Solvers – The problems in missile defense demand ingenuity. We want engineers, technicians, and corporate professionals who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.

Total Ownership – We seek those who take full responsibility for delivering flight-ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, technicians, and corporate professionals make their teammates better, knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.

Director, Autonomous Systems

DESCRIPTION

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

ITAR Requirement

This 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export-controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.

National Security Suitability
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.

About the Company

Long Wall

Produces hypersonic testbeds and defense interceptors

Long Wall repurposes its launch heritage to serve U.S. defense needs, building deployable space and missile-defense testing tools for the government. Its RSX is a hypersonic flight-test vehicle used as a test bed and threat-replication target, Ironwood is a containerized ground system for responsive launch, and Cyclops is a surface-launched interceptor designed to engage missiles in midflight. Unlike rivals pursuing commercial satellite launches, Long Wall focuses on U.S.-made defense hardware and offers an integrated set of launch/test and interception capabilities to shorten timelines and reduce costs. Its goal is to strengthen national security by providing ready-to-use, deployable defense testing and interception solutions for government customers.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $659.9M
Headquarters: Long Beach, CA
Founded: 2025

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