Lead Mechanical Engineer

Hypersonix Launch Systems; Ipswich City; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Flexible working

Ownership from day one

Professional development funded

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Hypersonix Launch Systems is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to own the structural and mechanical integrity of hypersonic airframes, wings, actuators, and ground support equipment from concept through qualification.

You will lead and develop a team, review designs and analyses, and ensure processes remain rigorous and current across the program. This role demands hands-on leadership in a fast-moving, high-technology aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in mechanical design and aerospace systems.
• Experience leading and developing a team of engineers.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Legal right to live and work in Australia.
• Ability to obtain security clearance or background checks.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural and mechanical integrity of hypersonic vehicles and ground systems.
• Review and approve mechanical designs and analyses.
• Ensure manufacturability, reliability and FMEA.
• Maintain rigorous engineering processes and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop your engineering team daily.
• Plan work packages and allocate resources to match program schedules.
• Contribute to new materials, technologies and structural methods.
• Represent structures voice in reviews, investigations and failure analyses.

Skills

Leadership

Mechanical design

Aerospace industry

Simulation tools

PLM systems

Communication

Security clearance

CPEng/RPEQ

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Job description

We’re building aircraft that fly faster, further, and to space.

Hypersonix is an Australian aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing company building hydrogen-powered scramjet aircraft. We work at the bleeding edge of hypersonic technology, delivering aircraft that fly faster, reach further, and open new pathways to space. We’re a small, highly capable team doing work that matters — and we’re growing.

This is a rare opportunity to own the structural and mechanical integrity of a hypersonic vehicle program from the ground up.

The Opportunity

As Lead Mechanical Engineer, you will be the subject matter expert for airframes, wings, internal structures, actuators, mechanisms and ground support equipment — from concept through to qualification.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role. You will lead and develop a team of engineers, review and approve design and analysis artefacts, and provide expert direction across the broader engineering team. You’ll also be central to ensuring our engineering processes are rigorous, current, and continuously improving.

What you’ll be doing

Responsibilities include:

• Leading structural and mechanical integrity of Hypersonic vehicles and ground systems - airframes, wings, actuators, mechanisms, internal structures and GSE.
• Reviewing and approving mechanical designs and analysis for hypersonic vehicles and GSE.
• Ensuring designs are assessed for manufacturability, reliability and FMEA.
• Ensure adherence to engineering process and guidelines and continuous improvement or processes.
• Day-to-day management, mentoring and technical development of your team.
• Leading work package planning and resource allocation in line with program schedules.
• Contributing to new materials, technologies and structural methods that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Acting as the structures and mechanisms voice in design reviews, non-conformance investigations and failure analyses.

Life at Hypersonix

We are a 60-person company growing fast in one of the most technically demanding fields in aerospace. The pace is fast, the expectations are high and the environment is still evolving. Priorities shift as the program evolves. Processes are maturing in real time. Some days the path forward isn’t clear, and you’ll need to find it yourself. We don’t say this to be dramatic — we say it because it’s the reality, and the people who thrive here are energised by it, not unsettled by it.

You will thrive here if you

• Own problems end to end without waiting for a complete picture
• Can hold technical rigour and program pace simultaneously – without sacrificing either
• Lead by bringing people with you, not by working around them
• Stay solutions-focused when the ground shifts under you.

What you’ll bring

To hit the ground running in this role, you’ll need:

• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• CPEng / RPEQ or a clear path to obtaining it.
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in mechanical systems design and simulation within aerospace or a high-technology industry.
• A track record of leading and developing a team of engineers.
• Deep expertise in mechanical design and analysis, grounded in practical experience with computer simulations and analysis tools.
• Experience with configuration management and PLM systems.
• The ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, dynamic environment with the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and project requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any applicable security clearance or background checks.
• Legal right to live and work in Australia.

Bonus points for experience with hypersonic or space systems, Siemens NX and Teamcentre, or weight and space-constrained product design.

Why Choose Hypersonix?

If you want to do the most technically challenging work of your career — and you’re honest with yourself that our environment will enable you to do your best work — we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits include:

• Equity participation
• Flexible working – we care about output, not hours
• Real ownership and influence from day one.
• Funded Professional development
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program