Build Engineer

Hermeus; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense technology company is seeking engineers to support the development of hypersonic aircraft. This role involves hardware design, production planning, and driving the transition from prototype to production. Ideal candidates will possess a relevant engineering degree and hands-on experience with hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant engineering field.
• Hands-on experience with physical hardware is essential.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, CAD, and test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead project planning and hardware delivery.
• Collaborate on design of complex aerospace assemblies.
• Develop and run test procedures for flight hardware.

Skills

Engineering principles

CAD

Physical hardware experience

Manufacturing processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing engineering or related field

Tools

Siemens Teamcenter

NX

Job description

Hermeus is an aerospace and defense technology company founded to radically accelerate air travel by delivering hypersonic aircraft. The company aims to develop hypersonic aircraft quickly and cost-effectively by integrating hardware-rich, iterative development with modern computing and autonomy. This approach has been validated through design, build, and test of the company’s first combined turbojet-ramjet engine and is now being scaled through its first flight vehicle program, Quarterhorse. Hermeus is also developing Darkhorse — an uncrewed hypersonic aircraft designed to deliver unique asymmetric capabilities to the warfighter.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, integration and test for flight vehicles.You'll be embedded with design and production teams, owning everything from hardware design, tooling, testing and flight readiness to process development and vehicle assembly. We are hiring entry-level through senior-level.

Responsibilities

• Lead detailed project planning and drive hardware delivery on aggressive timelines.
• Collaborate directly with high level design concepts turning them into detailed designs including final geometry, material selection and DFM.
• Drive the transition from prototype to production for complex aerospace assemblies.
• Ruthlessly question process complexity—delete parts, eliminate waste, simplify flow.
• Design and implement full-stack build processes—factory layout, tooling, test flow, and vehicle integration.
• Develop and run test procedures for flight hardware.
• Serve as a force multiplier across production, test, and design teams.

Basic Qualifications

• Strong engineering first principles.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, or related engineering field.
• Hands-on experience with physical hardware (internships, labs, project teams all count).
• Proven ability to design, build, break, and iterate quickly.
• Comfort with CAD, test equipment, hand tools.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes (machining, welding, forming, etc.) and GD&T fundamentals.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Designed and releasedflight hardware.
• Familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter and NX.
• Leadership experience on project teams or in mentorship roles.
• You’ve built something that’s flown, broken, or both.
• Experience standing up production lines or test infrastructure in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Requirements

• Must be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones.
• Must be willing to travel to test sites, other Hermeus offices, and partner locations as needed (up to 25% travel)

$90,000 - $180,000 a year

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by22 C.F.R. § 120.62or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.