Head of Engineering

About the role

We are hiring a Head of Engineering to be the operational and people backbone of our team as we build quantum optical systems for terrestrial and space applications.

This role is for someone who wants to be close to the work: running processes, tracking execution, removing blockers, and keeping a world-class team organized enough to move fast. You will work directly with the CTO, owning day-to-day rhythm across priorities, planning, and risk, while leading project management across customer and government programs.

The ideal candidate has worked in technically complex hardware/software environments — aerospace, robotics, or defense — and knows what good engineering execution looks like, even when they're not the deepest domain expert in the room.

What you’ll do

• Drive engineering execution across internal development and customer programs, including planning, reviews, dependency management, and risk tracking.
• Build lightweight processes that improve speed, clarity, and accountability across software and hardware teams.
• Lead and support a growing multidisciplinary engineering team, including hiring and onboarding.
• Partner with company leadership to align engineering priorities with customer, program, and business goals.
• Manage external program execution, reporting, and deliverables for government and commercial partners including DARPA and NASA.
• Support day-to-day engineering operations including lab coordination, tooling, procurement, and vendor management.

Required experience

• 6+ years of engineering experience in a complex technical environment.
• 3+ years leading, managing, or serving as the day-to-day technical lead for engineers, delivering both software and hardware, in any of these domains: optics, semiconductors, quantum tech, robotics, aerospace, or defense.
• Undergraduate and graduate degrees in relevant science or engineering disciplines.
• Proven ability to own engineering execution: running planning, tracking deliverables and dependencies, managing program commitments.
• Strong technical judgment and the ability to earn trust from engineers across disciplines, even when you are not the deepest expert in every domain.
• Expert knowledge in project- and engineering management and methods.

Preferred experience

• Experience with terrestrial or space-based sensing, imaging, telescope, or optical systems.
• Familiarity with design reviews, integration planning, verification, test campaigns, supplier coordination, or productization of complex physical systems.
• Experience using AI tools day to day to improve productivity, communication, documentation, planning, analysis, or engineering workflows.
• Active or prior DoD Security Clearance.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity options.
• Medical, dental and vision - on 1st day and fully covered.
• Company 401K match.
• Company discounts.
• Unlimited PTO.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and meritocratic workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Who We Are

We are an early stage deeptech startup with roots in MIT, Harvard, University of Maryland, and University of Arizona.

Our Headquarters are in Boston, MA

Our Tech

Our technology was developed in partnership with DARPA and NASA for high-precision space situational awareness. It is intended to fit into the Habitable Worlds Observatory, the successor to the James Webb and Hubble space observatories, dedicated to finding exoplanets that can support life.