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Missile Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

True Anomaly

GNC Engineer, Missile Defense

Denver, CO · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Design, test, and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for missiles operating across multiple flight regimes and environmental conditions. * Develop and maintain navigation and state ...

TAK Broadband

Underground Missile Groundhand

Aurora, CO · On-site

$22 - $27/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. fiber broadband network construction contractor operating in 42 states. It builds more than just ... We are seeking an Underground Missile Groundhand to join our team in Aurora, CO and performing work ...

TAK Broadband

Underground Missile Groundhand

Aurora, CO · On-site

$22 - $27/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. fiber broadband network construction contractor operating in 42 states. It builds more than just ... We are seeking an Underground Missile Groundhand to join our team in Aurora, CO and performing work ...

Nou Systems Inc

Threat Missile Analysis Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$70K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... operating in missile defense, cybersecurity, test range modernization, biotechnology, and space control market spaces. Qualified candidates will support various technical areas serving as a multi ...

TAK Broadband

Underground Missile Groundhand

Aurora, CO · On-site

$22 - $27/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

S. fiber broadband network construction contractor operating in 42 states. It builds more than just ... We are seeking an Underground Missile Groundhand to join our team in Aurora, CO and performing work ...

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How much do missile operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for missile operator in the United States is $21.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $25.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a missile operator?

Missile Operators are specialized military personnel responsible for the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of missile systems. They ensure that missiles are correctly armed, targeted, and launched according to mission requirements and strict safety protocols. Their duties also include conducting system checks, participating in training exercises, and responding to emergency situations. Missile Operators play a critical role in national defense, often working in highly secure environments and collaborating closely with other defense teams.

What are some common challenges faced by missile operators during training and live operations?

Missile Operators often encounter challenges such as mastering complex systems quickly, staying focused under pressure, and effectively communicating with other team members during high-stakes scenarios. The role requires constant vigilance, precision, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations. Training environments are rigorous to simulate real-world stress and ensure operators can respond accurately and efficiently, both in simulation and live operations. Collaboration with support teams and adherence to strict safety protocols are also essential to mission success.

What is the difference between Missile Operator vs Radar Technician?

AspectMissile OperatorRadar Technician
CredentialsMilitary training, security clearanceTechnical certifications, electronics training
Work EnvironmentMilitary bases, missile silosRadar stations, defense facilities
Industry UsageDefense, militaryDefense, aerospace

Both Missile Operators and Radar Technicians work in defense environments, often requiring security clearances and specialized training. Missile Operators focus on launching and controlling missile systems, while Radar Technicians maintain and repair radar equipment. Understanding these roles helps clarify career paths within military and defense sectors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a missile operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Missile Operator, you need a solid background in electronics, mechanical systems, and military procedures, often supported by specialized military training and security clearance. Familiarity with missile guidance systems, radar, targeting software, and command-and-control platforms is typically required. Strong attention to detail, composure under pressure, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure the safe, precise, and reliable operation of missile systems in high-stakes defense environments.
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Missile Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Missile Operator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, 58% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,993 per year, or $21.6 per hour.

GNC Engineer, Missile Defense

True Anomaly

Denver, CO • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Own all aspects of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) system development for missile systems, including architecture definition, algorithm design, verification, hardware integration, flight test support, and operational deployment.
  • Design, test, and validate GNC flight software and embedded algorithms for missiles operating across multiple flight regimes and environmental conditions.
  • Develop and maintain navigation and state estimation algorithms, including sensor fusion frameworks (e.g., EKF, UKF, particle filters) integrating IMU, GPS/INS, seeker data, and other sensor modalities to provide high-rate, high-accuracy state estimates throughout the engagement timeline.
  • Develop guidance laws (proportional navigation, augmented PN, optimal guidance) and autopilot designs; implement them in flight software; verify performance and robustness through high-fidelity 6-DOF simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and flight test correlation.
  • Design, implement, and maintain high-fidelity simulation environments capturing aerodynamics, propulsion, atmospheric effects, target dynamics, sensor models, and actuator dynamics for SIL, HIL, and mission analysis across the full flight envelope.
  • Utilize frequency-domain and time-domain control analysis techniques to ensure stability margins.
  • Develop terminal guidance algorithms for intercept of maneuvering targets, including target tracking, aimpoint selection, miss distance prediction, time-to-go estimation, and endgame steering logic.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or related field
  • 5+ years of relevant GNC engineering experience in the aerospace and defense industry, preferably with tactical missile systems, interceptors, or guided munitions
  • Coursework or project experience in flight dynamics, aerodynamics, control systems, and state estimation
  • Strong understanding of physics, rigid body dynamics, intercept geometry, proportional navigation, and real-time software development principles
  • Experience with C++ and/or Python for algorithm development, numerical methods, real-time control, or simulation
  • Familiarity with missile GNC concepts including guidance laws, autopilot design, sensor fusion, inertial navigation, seeker operation, and aerodynamic/thrust vector control
  • Exposure to filtering and estimation methods (e.g., Kalman filters, complementary filters, INS/GPS integration) through internships, coursework, or projects
  • Ability to build, test, and debug flight software, real-time control systems, and simulation tools
  • Strong analytical skills with emphasis on dynamics, controls, and numerical methods; ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering environment
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex technical problems and drive solutions from concept through flight test
  • Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI US government security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
  • Master's degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, control systems, or equivalent discipline
  • Experience with terminal guidance algorithms, proportional navigation variants, optimal guidance theory, or modern guidance techniques
  • Experience developing autopilot designs for agile missiles including gain scheduling, adaptive control, or nonlinear control methods
  • Experience with INS/GPS integration, sensor calibration, alignment algorithms, and error budget analysis
  • Experience with aerodynamic modeling, CFD correlation to flight data, or aeroservoelastic analysis
  • Experience developing and executing hardware-in-the-loop test campaigns with flight representative GNC hardware
  • Flight test experience including test planning, instrumentation selection, telemetry analysis, and flight data reconstruction
  • Experience with intercept kinematics, target tracking, miss distance analysis, and covariance propagation
  • Experience performing line-of-sight stability analysis including jitter, noise rejection, and seeker tracking performance
  • Hands-on experience with GNC hardware integration, sensor characterization, and actuator calibration
  • Familiarity with missile-specific tools and standards (e.g., MISSILE DATCOM, MIL-STD-1553, MIL-STD-1760)
  • Active TS/SCI clearance with Polygraph

COMPENSATION
  • Base Salary: $115,000 - $290,000
  • Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Work Location-This is an onsite position, Successful candidates will be located near Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA
  • Work environment-the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
  • Physical demands-the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.

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