Engineering Manager, Perception AI

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it. OUR MISSION True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground. OUR VALUES Be the offset.   We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity. What would it take?  We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results. It’s the people.  Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together. YOUR MISSION Build and lead the perception AI team that enables autonomous spacecraft operations in complex operational environments. Your team will develop world models and generative AI for photorealistic synthetic training data, multi-target tracking and sensor fusion for object discrimination, edge-deployed AI models for on-orbit operations, and camera calibration systems maintaining performance through environmental variations. You will grow the team across five work streams: world models and generative AI for synthetic video generation, multi-target tracking with clutter and decoy discrimination, signal processing and multi-sensor fusion, camera control with online auto-calibration, and edge-deployed object detection. You will define validation standards bridging synthetic data, simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and operational acceptance. Your team will deliver perception AI systems that track satellites through occlusions and complex maneuvers, discriminate objects from decoys against Earth background clutter, and maintain custody for months without ground intervention. This is perception AI engineering where algorithms operate under spacecraft compute and power budgets, mistakes have operational consequences, and systems enable critical space operations. RESPONSIBILITIES Technical Oversight & Strategic Contributions Provide technical direction on world model architectures for photorealistic synthetic video generation, perception AI systems combining classical computer vision with modern deep learning, and edge deployment strategies Review and approve technical designs for generative AI systems, multi-target tracking algorithms, sensor fusion pipelines, and model compression strategies Lead by example, setting the standard for technical work across design, implementation, and verification (approximately 50% of time) Define perception AI standards, validation approaches bridging synthetic and real-world data, and hardware-in-the-loop testing protocols Drive technical decisions on when to use physics-based simulation versus generative AI for synthetic data, when classical algorithms excel versus learned representations, and real-time performance trade-offs Maintain technical credibility in generative AI for synthetic data, computer vision, state estimation, and resource-constrained deployment Strategic Planning & Execution Define and own the team roadmap in collaboration with perception AI leadership, balancing near-term delivery with long-term capability development across world models, multi-modal fusion, and continuous learning from operational and synthetic data Translate organizational strategy into actionable team objectives aligned to defense and commercial customer missions Prioritize work across competing demands: photorealistic synthetic video generation, multi-target tracking with decoy discrimination, signal processing and sensor fusion, camera calibration and control, edge-deployed object detection Manage dependencies and coordinate with flight software, hardware, autonomy, and simulation teams for successful cross-functional delivery Track and communicate progress, risks, and blockers to leadership with focus on integration milestones and operational acceptance Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and workflows to increase velocity from prototype to flight-ready systems Work with program managers to scope projects, estimate timelines, and commit to deliverables Team Leadership & People Management Build, grow, and lead a team of perception and AI engineers through recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention Provide direct people management including 1-on-1s, performance reviews, goal setting, and career development Foster a culture of technical excellence, rigorous validation, and rapid iteration from synthetic data through simulation to flight Develop individual contributors into technical leaders through mentorship and growth opportunities Manage team dynamics, resolve conflicts, and ensure healthy team communication Facilitate knowledge sharing, cross-training, and documentation to build team resilience Bridge generative AI, classical perception, and modern deep learning approaches, guiding the team on when each paradigm applies QUALIFICATIONS - Education: Master's degree in computer science, robotics, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field; Ph.D. or Bachelor's degree with equivalent professional experience also accepted Experience: 8+ years of experience in computer vision, robotics, autonomous systems, or perception AI engineering with at least 4-5 years in people management, leading teams of 4+ engineers People Management: Demonstrated track record of building, growing, and developing high-performing engineering teams including hiring, performance management, and career development Leadership: Proven ability to lead through influence, manage stakeholder expectations, drive execution in ambiguous environments, and deliver results through others Technical Foundation: Strong foundation in perception AI with depth in synthetic data generation, multi-object tracking, sensor fusion, or edge AI deployment (sufficient for technical oversight and credibility) Domain Knowl