Head of Vehicle Engineering

About the role

The is responsible for defining and executing the technical vision for missile defense vehicle systems that enable mass production and rapid deployment. This leader will own the end-to-end engineering strategy for containerized defense platforms, ensuring that design choices align with manufacturability, testability, and operational reality. They will foster a culture where curiosity drives innovation, and where every team member understands how their work contributes to mission success. The role demands balancing aggressive timelines with the rigorous standards required for flight hardware and flight testing programs. You will act as the central technical authority for vehicle disciplines, translating abstract requirements into coherent, executable engineering solutions. Success in this position will be measured by the delivery of flight-ready hardware that performs reliably in increasingly complex scenarios. You will build bridges between propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing teams to eliminate silos and accelerate integration. Ultimately, this position is about multiplying the capability of a high-caliber engineering team through clear vision, technical depth, and empathetic leadership.

Key facts

What you'll do

Lead the development of multidisciplinary vehicle architectures that integrate structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms into a unified flight hardware solution.

Define and maintain the technical roadmap for vehicle engineering, ensuring alignment with Longwall's mission to deliver lower-cost, higher-performing defensive systems.

Own the design and validation strategy for containerized missile defense platforms, emphasizing mass-producibility and rapid iteration.

Partner with propulsion leadership to select and qualify propulsion subsystems that meet performance, weight, and integration targets.

Collaborate with avionics leadership to ensure vehicle interfaces, power, and data architectures support resilient and scalable system integration.

Work closely with manufacturing leadership to translate engineering designs into processes that are reliable, efficient, and scalable for defense production.

Engage with mission assurance leadership to identify and mitigate technical risks, ensuring that vehicle designs meet stringent reliability and safety criteria.

Drive the execution of test campaigns, from component-level validation to full-system flight tests, using data to inform design improvements.

Establish technical standards and best practices that enable consistent quality and knowledge sharing across the engineering organization.

Mentor and develop a team of engineers and technicians, providing guidance, feedback, and career growth opportunities.

Represent Longwall in external technical discussions, ensuring that vehicle strategies reflect the latest advances in aerospace and defense technology.

Champion a culture of ownership, where every team member feels responsible for the success of the mission and the quality of the output.

Facilitate cross-functional trade studies to evaluate design alternatives and make informed decisions under aggressive schedule constraints.

Ensure that all vehicle engineering activities adhere to regulatory, safety, and quality requirements relevant to defense and aerospace systems.

Lead the resolution of complex technical problems, balancing innovation with the practical realities of deployment in the field.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in a aerospace, defense, or related high-tech environment.

Possess a deep technical background in mechanical or aerospace engineering, with expertise in structures, fluid systems, and mechanisms.

Have a proven track record of delivering flight hardware from concept through to successful flight testing and deployment.

Showcase strong leadership skills, with the ability to hire, develop, and retain top technical talent in a fast-paced environment.

Exhibit excellent communication skills, capable of translating complex technical concepts to both engineers and executive stakeholders.

Have experience working with containerized systems or modular platforms, with an understanding of how standardization enables scalability.

Demonstrate comfort with ambiguity and the ability to make decisions in a dynamic, rapidly evolving-priorities environment.

Commitment to a hands-on leadership style, maintaining technical credibility through active engagement with detailed engineering challenges.

Nice to have

Experience with missile defense or similar high-assurance defense programs.

Background in rapid prototyping, low-cost test methodologies, and flight test campaign execution.

Familiarity with advanced manufacturing techniques that support mass production of defense hardware.

Practical notes

This is a full-time role based in Long Beach, California.

Travel may be required for testing, manufacturing oversight, and stakeholder meetings.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship at this time.