Technical Director - Algorithm Development - Missile Defense

Technical Director – Systems Architecture – DoD Modeling & Simulation Location: Huntsville, AL 35801– On-SiteClearance: Active Top Secret (required)Reports to: CEO / OwnershipCompensation: 200-250K+ (depends on education, experience, skills, etc)Position Overview We are seeking a corporate Technical Director to lead the technical direction of our Command & Control (C2), fire control, Missile Defense and battle management portfolio. This position is responsible for setting architecture, elevating internal engineering talent, and serving as a trusted technical authority to customers. Must have hands on algorithm development expertise. The role is focused on day-to-day technical work while emphasizing technical leadership, mentorship, and customer-facing credibility, with hands-on engagement in high-impact areas. Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance
• PhD highly preferred
• 15+ years of experience in:
  • Missile defense systems
  • Command & Control (C2)
  • Fire control or battle management systems
• Demonstrated experience in:
  • System architecture and algorithm development
  • Modeling & simulation environments
  • End-to-end system delivery (concept through fielding)
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technical teams
• Experience interfacing directly with DoD customers and/or prime contractors

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical Fellow, Chief Engineer, or equivalent senior technical leader
• Experience with:
  • Sensor fusion, tracking, and targeting algorithms
  • AI/ML applications in defense systems
  • Planners, Battle Management, Sensor Resource Management, Fire Control
• Existing relationships within the Huntsville defense community
• PhD in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field

Compensation

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus tied to program success and growth

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Former hands-on algorithm developer who now operates at the system and architecture level
• Able to mentor and scale a team, not just solve problems individually
• Commands instant credibility with customers and primes

Core Responsibilities (Rebalanced)1. Technical Authority (Top Priority)

• Own and define system architecture across:
  • Command & Control (C2)
  • Fire control systems
  • Battle management and sensor resource management
• Review, guide, and approve algorithms developed by internal engineering teams
• Establish technical direction for modeling, simulation, and real-time system integration
• Step into critical technical challenges and high-risk problem areas as needed
• Ensure technical quality, performance, and scalability across programs

2. Team Elevation (Long-Term Capability Build)

• Mentor and develop 2–4 high-potential engineers into senior algorithm and system leads
• Establish and enforce:
  • Algorithm development standards
  • Modeling and simulation approaches
  • Design and code review rigor
• Build a repeatable, scalable "algorithm development pipeline”
• Promote best practices across Agile development, testing, and integration
• Strengthen the organization's ability to deliver complex technical solutions without reliance on a single expert

3. Customer Credibility (Externally Facing Leadership)

• Serve as the company's senior technical representative in:
  • Design reviews
  • Technical interchange meetings (TIMs)
  • Program milestone discussions
• Engage directly with customers including:
  • Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
  • U.S. Army programs
  • U.S. Navy programs
  • Prime contractors
• Translate customer needs into executable technical strategies
• Be the trusted authority customers rely on during complex or high-risk situations

• Comfortable balancing technical depth, leadership, and customer engagement