Chief Engineer

Stratolaunch- Huntsville; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 175,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

STRATOLAUNCH HUNTSVILLE seeks a Chief Engineer to lead the Chimera high-speed airbreathing missile program. You will be the top technical authority, shaping strategy, managing risk, and guiding a multi-disciplinary team across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC, and sensors.

Strong leadership and communication are essential. You will coordinate with government customers and prime contractor leadership, drive technical reviews, staffing plans, and proposals.

Qualifications

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success as engineering team leader balancing cost, schedule, and technical performance.
• Experience acting as a system integrator on missile programs.
• Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary development team across aero, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC, sensors and effectors.
• Ability to work with government customers and prime contractor leadership.

Responsibilities

• Partner with prime contractor, Stratolaunch, and customer leadership to drive program execution.
• Apply Systems Engineering principles to control scope, risk, and quality.
• Lead technical reviews such as SRR, PDR, CDR and gate reviews.
• Lead trade studies and final technical decisions across multiple disciplines.
• Create staffing plans and identify skill gaps in the team.
• Support whitepapers, proposals and other business development activities.

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering

Missile system domain

Communication skills

Independent work

US citizenship

Education

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.)

20-25 years relevant experience

Job description

STRATOLAUNCH HUNTSVILLE Help build the next chapter of hypersonic flight. Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

Stratolaunch is seeking a high-impact technical leader to be Chief Engineer to support a high-speed airbreathing strike missile development program called Chimera. This position will be the top technical authority and conscience for Stratolaunch program scope. In this role, you will be trusted to lead people, develop and execute technical strategies for open-ended problems, manage risk, and communicate successfully with internal and external customers. The ideal candidate is a demonstrated technical leader and team player with significant experience pertinent to air-launched missile system development and production.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with prime contractor, Stratolaunch, and customer leadership to drive successful program execution
• Apply Systems Engineering principles to control scope, manage risk, and drive quality technical execution
• Facilitate successful technical meetings and reviews such as Engineering Review Board and technical gate reviews. (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR)
• Lead trade studies and make final technical decisions, requiring balance across a wide breadth of disciplines to include: aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC, sensors and effectors
• Create engineering staffing plans and identify skillset gaps in the team
• Support whitepapers, proposals and other business development activities

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated success as an engineering team leader with experience balancing cost, schedule, and technical performance considerations when making decisions
• Experience acting as a system integrator
• Experience leading a technical team through some aspect of missile system development
• Technical subject matter expertise in at least one technical domain of relevance (aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC, sensors and effectors), which sufficient breadth to lead a multi-disciplinary development team.
• Ability to effectively manage relationship with key stakeholders, including government customers and Prime Contractor leadership
• Demonstrated success applying analytical and critical thinking skills to solve multi-disciplinary, open-ended technical problems
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment to achieve business goals
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain a DOD security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated success as a Chief Engineer on missile development programs
• Hypersonic/high-speed tactical missile experience highly desirable (e.g. multi-stage systems, hot structure airframes, launch platform integration)
• Experience with high-speed airbreathing propulsion systems
• Experience with solid rocket motor propulsion systems
• Experience transitioning developmental systems to production
• Active TS/SCI security clearance

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Principal-Level ($175,000 - $213,600): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 20-25 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Principal-Level ($200,000 - $243,700): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 25+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable:

• This position is located in Huntsville, AL.
• Applicants must be a US Person able to obtain a security clearance to be considered for this role.
• Travel estimated to be <20% in support of the program.

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s)

• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Huntsville, Alabama, known as the Rocket City, combines a thriving aerospace and defense community with the affordability, outdoor access, and quality of life of the Tennessee Valley. Home to Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and one of the nation’s largest concentrations of aerospace, defense, and technology organizations, Huntsville has played a major role in America’s space and defense programs for generations—and continues to be at the center of what comes next.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Huntsville offers plenty to explore. Monte Sano State Park sits just minutes from downtown and features miles of hiking and mountain biking trails overlooking the Tennessee Valley. The nearby Tennessee River provides opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, and other water activities, while the region’s parks, greenways, and foothills make it easy to get outdoors year-round.

Prefer city life? Downtown Huntsville offers a growing mix of restaurants, breweries, live music, arts, sports, and entertainment. Catch a concert at the Orion Amphitheater, explore the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, or spend an evening at Toyota Field cheering on the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the region’s aptly named Minor League Baseball team. You can also explore the shops and restaurants at MidCity and Bridge Street or experience Huntsville’s growing arts scene. For a weekend getaway, Nashville, Birmingham, and Chattanooga are all within a few hours’ drive, with Atlanta also easily accessible.

Food and drink enthusiasts will find everything from Southern staples and barbecue to an increasingly diverse restaurant scene, local breweries, coffee shops, and cocktail bars. Huntsville blends the welcoming character of the South with the energy of one of the country’s fastest-growing technology and aerospace communities.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.