Chief Engineer, Hypersonic Vehicle

Stratolaunch; Mojave (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

401(k) match

Job summary

Stratolaunch seeks a Chief Engineer to serve as the top technical authority for hypersonic air vehicle programs. You will lead people, develop and execute technical strategies, manage risk, and communicate with internal and external customers.

You will balance disciplines—aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, controls, and aero‑thermodynamics—while guiding trade studies, staffing, and program integration to deliver aerospace innovations.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree and 10–20 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent mix of education and work.
• Proven track record as an engineering team leader and frontline manager of technical staff.
• Experience with aerospace platforms, testing, and program integration.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Program Director/Managers to ensure successful customer program execution.
• Act as program integrator and lead trade studies across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, and controls.
• Lead risk management, quality execution, and customer communications.
• Support test planning and execution (ground and flight) and assist with business proposals and planning.
• Facilitate technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and staff development plans.
• Collaborate across the enterprise to align with business objectives.

Skills

Communication skills

Engineering leadership

Front-line management

Aerospace testing

Recruiting engineers

Customer interaction

Analytical thinking

Independent work

Security clearance eligibility

Education

BS in engineering

10–20 years experience

DOE/DoD aware

Tools

Siemens NX/Teamcenter

Job description

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, driving innovations imperative to advancing national security.

Role Overview

Chief Engineer – technical leader for hypersonic air vehicle programs. Serves as the top technical authority, leading people, developing and executing technical strategies for open‑ended problems, managing risk, and communicating effectively with internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Program Director/Managers and support functions to achieve successful customer program execution.
• Act as a program integrator/prime contractor.
• Lead trade studies and make final technical decisions, balancing across a wide breadth of disciplines including aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, controls, and aero‑thermodynamics.
• Apply Systems Engineering principles to control scope, manage risk, and drive quality technical execution.
• Support test planning and execution as required (ground and flight).
• Support business proposals and planning.
• Facilitate successful technical meetings and reviews such as Engineering Review Board phase‑gate technical reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Create engineering staffing plans and identify skill‑set gaps in the team.
• Collaborate across the enterprise in support of business objectives and program execution.

Required Qualifications

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success as an engineering team leader and experience balancing cost, schedule, and technical performance considerations when making decisions.
• Demonstrated proficiency as a front‑line manager of technical employees.
• Experience maintaining, modifying, or testing aerospace platforms.
• Experience recruiting and hiring engineers.
• Ability to interact with customers and/or external stakeholders.
• 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 of development programs.
• Experience with hypersonic and supersonic vehicle development.
• Experience supporting defense contracts and working on classified programs.
• Hypersonic/high‑speed tactical missile experience highly desirable (e.g., multi‑stage systems, hot structure airframes, launch platform integration).
• Experience with rocket propulsion systems.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience with Siemens NX/Teamcenter.

Education & Experience

• Staff‑level (≈$157,000–$206,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from an accredited institution and 10–20 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Principal Level (≈$181,000–$237,300): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from an accredited institution and 20+ years of engineering experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Sr. Principal‑Level (≈$k): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from an accredited institution and 25+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Location & Travel

• Position based in Mojave, CA. Preference for a fully on‑site candidate; hybrid arrangement considered at no less than 75–80% on‑site time for well‑qualified candidates.
• Estimated travel <10% as needed.

Benefits

• Paid maternity and parental leave.
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500.

EEO Statement

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment. For transparency, U.S. citizenship may be required for positions requiring government clearance. Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law.