Hypersonic Aeropropulsion Test Manager/Test Engineer

Freedom Real Estate; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP participation

401(k) match

medical

dental

vision

life insurance

short-term disability

long-term disability

flexible spending accounts

Health Saving Accounts

Health Reimbursement Accounts

EAP

education assistance

paid time off

holidays

Job summary

Torch Technologies is seeking a highly skilled Hypersonic Aeropropulsion Test Manager/Test Engineer for the 715th Test Squadron at AEDC, onsite at Arnold AFB, TN. The role combines project leadership with hands-on test engineering to manage complex hypersonic test campaigns from concept through data reporting.

Ideal candidates have a BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, 6 years of relevant experience, and the ability to obtain Secret DoD clearance. Travel to customer sites is required.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; advanced degree may substitute with customer approval.
• 6 years of relevant work experience.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain Secret DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Test Manager/Test Engineer for hypersonic aeropropulsion test campaigns, ensuring on-schedule, within-budget delivery.
• Coordinate with customers, developers, and leadership to define objectives and facility requirements.
• Plan tests, run matrices, and procedures for high-mach, high-enthalpy flow testing.
• Oversee integration and checkout of test articles with instrumentation in wind tunnel facilities.
• Perform post-test data reduction and prepare comprehensive reports and briefings.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Torch Technologies Thank you for your interest in employment with Torch Technologies. We are a 100% employee-owned, Certified Great Place To Work and named Best Places to Work in Huntsville/Madison County, headquartered in Huntsville, AL. Our team provides superior research, development, and engineering services to the Federal Government and Department of War. As one of the nation’s top 100 defense companies, the services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country. Our corporate mission sums up the pride our employee-owners take in the work we do: "Lighting the Pathway of Freedom". And, as a Certified Evergreen ESOP, we have made the commitment to grow and sustain our company for the next 100 years! Come grow with us! Torch Technologies is seeking a highly skilled Hypersonic Aeropropulsion Test Manager with dual capabilities as a Test Engineer to support the 715th Test Squadron (715 TS) at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). The 715 TS operates world-class aerodynamic and propulsion test facilities, and this role is critical to advancing the nation's hypersonic weapon and flight systems. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between project management and hands‑on test engineering. This role is responsible for managing complex hypersonic aeropropulsion test campaigns (such as scramjet/ramjet testing and high‑speed aerodynamic evaluations) from initial concept and customer coordination through execution, data analysis, and final reporting. This position is located onsite at Arnold AFB, TN.

As a Test Manager/Test Engineer, your duties will include the following, but are not limited to:

• Test Management & Leadership: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned hypersonic aeropropulsion test projects under the TMAS contract, ensuring testing is delivered on schedule, within budget, and meets all technical requirements.
• Customer Interfacing: Act as the liaison between the 715TS, government customers, system developers, and Canvas, Inc. leadership to define test objectives, facility requirements, and success criteria.
• Resource Allocation: Coordinate with facility operations, instrumentation teams, and maintenance crews to schedule wind tunnel time and secure necessary resources.
• Risk Management: Identify programmatic and technical risks early in the test planning phase and develop actionable mitigation strategies.
• Test Engineering Test Planning & Design: Develop detailed test plans, run matrices, and operational procedures for high‑mach, high‑enthalpy flow testing.
• Systems Integration: Oversee the buildup, integration, and checkout of test articles within the wind tunnel facility, ensuring all instrumentation (pressure, temperature, force, optical diagnostics) is correctly configured.
• Test Execution: Act as a Test Director/Test Engineer during live tunnel operations. Monitor real‑time data, ensure facility parameters match required test conditions, and make critical go/no‑go decisions regarding test article safety and data quality.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Perform post‑test data reduction and aerodynamic/thermodynamic analysis. Author comprehensive test reports, briefings, and presentations summarizing facility performance and test article behavior.
• Safety & Compliance Safety Protocol: Strictly adhere to and enforce all AEDC safety directives, particularly those involving high‑pressure systems, high temperatures, and hazardous fuels associated with hypersonic testing.
• Security: Maintain the integrity of classified data, test articles, and facility operations in accordance with DoD and AEDC security guidelines.

Schedule: M-F; 8-5. Work Location: customer site. Travel: yes. Relocation Assistance Available: NA. Position Contingent Upon Award of Contract: No.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering. Additional experience may be substituted for education with customer approval.
• Specific Relevant Work Experience: 6 years.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain Secret DoW security clearance. Active clearance must be maintained throughout employment tenure.

Benefits

• ESOP participation
• 401(k) match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• flexible spending accounts
• Health Saving Accounts
• Health Reimbursement Accounts
• EAP
• education assistance
• paid time off
• holidays

Employment at Torch Technologies is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Torch Technologies, Inc. participates in E-Verify.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Careers Link as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by sending an email to [e-mail].

Thank you for your interest in Torch Technologies. Torch Technologies is dedicated to providing superior research, development, and engineering services to the Department of Defense. As defense contractors, the services we provide directly support the men and women who serve our country.

From the CEO’s desk... When Bill Roark and Don Holder founded Torch in 2002, they knew that employees were the company’s greatest asset. They believed that offering employees a stake in the outcome, by making them all owners, was critical to building a successful organization. I share that feeling. Bill and Don’s original intent was fully achieved in 2011 when Torch converted to a 100 percent S‑Corp ESOP. Since that time, the company has grown over ten-fold and gained national recognition for the success we have demonstrated as an employee‑owned company. Today, Torch continues to respect the individual contributions of our employee‑owners and to share the rewards of our success. In addition, we continue to foster an environment of employee recognition, respect, development, and comradery while striving to achieve a healthy work‑life balance. We recognize that core to our company is a culture of trust with our employees, customers, business partners, and community. Our management team is committed to continue to earn that trust. This past year, Torch proudly announced that we were Certified Evergreen. A timely achievement for Torch employee‑owners as they will celebrate Torch’s 20th anniversary this October, becoming Certified Evergreen signifies that Torch has committed to finding ways to make 100 percent employee ownership sustainable so that Torch will remain a private company forever. Going forward, Torch will continue to evolve to address market and technology changes in order to become a major provider of cost‑effective technical services and solutions to the Warfighter. We are making significant investments into facilities, equipment, business systems, and research to enable us to provide innovations and timely business services to our clients. We feel that always looking to improve our service is key to sustaining customer trust in the future. Likewise, we believe that continuing to share ownership is one of the ways we maintain employee trust and an unparalleled commitment to succeed. Combined, these timeless principles form the basis of the Torch culture. A culture that we are committed to continue and strive to pass on to the next generation of employee‑owners as an Evergreen Company.