Performance Engineer

Hermeus Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 91,800 - 187,450; Full time

Job summary

Hermeus Corporation in Los Angeles seeks a Performance Engineer to analyze, model, and optimize propulsion and aircraft performance across the flight envelope. You will apply gas turbine cycle theory, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics to support development, certification, and operational excellence.

You will develop propulsion performance models, generate data for flight manuals and flight computers, and participate in flight test planning and airframe integration efforts, including takeoff

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, compressible flow, gas turbine engine cycles, and aerodynamics.
• Experience with propulsion performance modeling and aircraft performance analysis.
• Proficiency in MATLAB and Python.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and validate complex engineering data sets.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermodynamic cycle analysis of turbofan engines, evaluating thrust, TSFC, efficiency, operability margins, and performance across the flight envelope.
• Develop, validate, and maintain propulsion system performance models to support aircraft integration, certification, and customer deliverables.
• Generate aircraft and engine performance data for flight manuals, flight computers, and executive-level program assessments.
• Conduct runway and mission performance analyses.
• Support engine-airframe integration efforts, including takeoff thrust optimization and safety-focused performance methodologies.
• Author and execute flight test plans to evaluate propulsion robustness, operability, and early design maturity.
• Contribute to advanced combustion and fluid dynamics modeling efforts.
• Support experimental testing efforts including aeroacoustics, flow visualization (Schlieren), wind tunnel testing, and telemetry data analysis.
• Play a key role within our HEAT (High-Enthalpy Airflow Test) facility, including sizing, analyzing, and optimizing this world-class test infrastructure.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Aerodynamics

Gas turbine cycles

Propulsion modeling

Aircraft performance analysis

MATLAB

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

CFD/LES

Job description

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role:

In your role as a Performance Engineer, you willbe responsible foranalyzing, modeling, andoptimizingaircraftand propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position requires strongexpertisein gas turbine engine cycles, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics to supportaircraftdevelopment, certification, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Perform thermodynamic cycle analysis of turbofan engines, evaluating thrust, TSFC, efficiency, operability margins, and performance across the flight envelope.
• Develop,validate, andmaintainpropulsion system performance models to supportaircraftintegration, certification, and customer deliverables.
• Generateaircraftand engine performance data for flight manuals, flight computers, and executive-level program assessments.
• Conduct runway and mission performance analyses
• Support engine-airframe integration efforts, including takeoff thrust optimization and safety-focused performance methodologies.
• Author and execute flight test plans to evaluate propulsion robustness, operability, and early design maturity.
• Contribute to advanced combustion and fluid dynamics modeling efforts
• Support experimental testing efforts including aeroacoustics, flow visualization (Schlieren), wind tunnel testing, and telemetry data analysis.
• Play a key role within ourHEAT (High-Enthalpy Airflow Test) facility, including sizing, analyzing, andoptimizingthis world-class test infrastructure.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong foundationin thermodynamics, compressible flow, gas turbine engine cycles, and aerodynamics.
• Experience with propulsion performance modeling andaircraftperformance analysis
• Proficiencyin MATLAB andPython
• Demonstrated ability to interpret andvalidatecomplex engineering data sets.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineeringwith focus on propulsion, aerothermodynamics, or combustion.
• Experience supporting turbofan engine development programs
• Background in CFD, Large Eddy Simulation (LES), or reduced-order modeling techniques.
• Exposure to experimental aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, or high-speed flow diagnostics.
• Strong systems-level thinking with attention to both detailed analysis and program-level impacts.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical initiatives or cross-functional collaboration.

$91,800 - $187,450 a year