Hypersonics Flight Test Engineer

aero; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 117,300 - 226,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

Paid holidays and vacation

401(k) Plan with company-paid benefits

Education assistance programs

Professional growth development programs

Job summary

Aerospace Corporation is hiring a Hypersonics Flight Test Engineer in Chantilly, VA, to provide technical support for payload integration on Reentry Vehicles and conduct ground launch testing. The role requires strong communication skills, hands-on experience with hypersonic systems, and an active Top Secret clearance.

The ideal candidate should have significant engineering experience and be comfortable working with various stakeholders, including contractors and government entities.

Qualifications

• 8 or more years of relevant engineering experience, particularly in configuration management.
• Experience in hypersonic flight and testing.
• Strong background in mechanical and structural engineering.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical engineering support for payload integration.
• Conduct ground launch testing.
• Interface with the government and contractors.

Skills

Hypersonic vehicle integration

Systems engineering

Configuration management

Flight test engineering

Education

Bachelor of Science in a STEM field

Masters or Ph.D. in a STEM field

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.

The Launch, Mobility and Missile (LMM) division is seeking a Hypersonics Flight Test Engineer to provide technical engineering support to a Program Office that is integrating a payload onto an existing Reentry Vehicle and will conduct ground launch testing. The position requires someone with hands‑on experience in hypersonic vehicle integration and systems engineering. The candidate will also be in a customer interfacing role with the Program Office. Engagements will range from working level to O‑7 level. The candidate must have exceptional verbal and written communication skills and be able to effectively interface with the government customer, contractors and other supporting FFRDCs/UARCs. They must also be willing to travel to the contractor’s site and interface with them regularly.

The selected candidate will be required to work full‑time, on‑site at our facility in Chantilly, VA.

What You Will Be Doing

• Review and provide inputs to contractor developed test planning
• Coordinate tasks and participate in Test Readiness Reviews and other government/contractor technical interchange and working group meetings
• Assess requirements and implications to test execution and modeling
• Coordinate Aerospace resources to resolve test related issues
• Provide support to development, evaluation, and validation of system level requirements
• Present technical and project status briefings to Aerospace management and the Program Office customer
• Work closely with project scheduler to identify receiver and provider products across all stakeholders to ensure the Integrated Master Schedule remains accurate
• Coordinate Aerospace internal technical resources to provide modeling and simulation studies as needed by the Program Office
• Prepare technical reports and presentations to capture findings, and provide technical assessments and guidance to the Program Office
• Demonstrate behavior that is consistent with the company’s values of Dedication to Mission Success, Technical Excellence, Commitment to Our People, Objectivity and Integrity, and Innovation
• This position requires approximately 30% travel

What You Need to be Successful

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program in a STEM field.
• 8 or more years of relevant engineering experience with an emphasis on configuration management, establishment and maintenance of Configuration Items, and planning and execution of associated reviews.
• Experience in operational or technical disciplines relevant to hypersonic flight and testing.
• Experience in flight test engineering.
• Strong background in mechanical and structural engineering in a high‑g environment.
• This position requires an active Top Secret / SCI clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Eligibility to obtain SAP access.

• 12 or more years of relevant engineering experience with an emphasis on configuration management, establishment and maintenance of Configuration Items, and planning and execution of associated reviews.
• Strong background in configuration management, establishment and maintenance of Configuration Items, and planning and execution of associated reviews.

How You Can Stand Out

• Masters or Ph.D. degree from an accredited program in STEM field.
• Experience in operational or technical disciplines relevant to weapon systems (armaments).
• Experience in working with Department of Defense organizations and FFRDC/UARCs supporting DoD activities.
• Special Access Program experience.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade‑based pay range for this job is $117,300.00 – $226,900.00 per year.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail]. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.