Back to jobs

Hypersonic Chief Engineer

Mojave, CA

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 Chief Engineer to lead the development of an air-launched, high-speed vehicle development program. This position requires leading a multi-disciplined group of engineers to design, build, and test vehicles with an emphasis on systems engineering and balancing system-of-system-level decisions to meet customer requirements. An ideal candidate has significant prototype development experience across multiple disciplines and subsystems, leading to first flights. An ideal candidate will have experience and engineering judgment in aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics, rocket propulsion system development, thermal-structural-mechanical design, and avionics and electrical systems. A qualified candidate will have significant experience in at least two of the areas listed.

  •  

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Work hand-in-hand with the Program Manager to lead the program to a successful outcome, filling in gaps where needed
  • Lead a diverse team of multi-disciplined engineers to execute the development of a high-speed vehicle system, by directly managing the Responsible Engineer of each subsystem
  • Lead trade studies and make final technical decisions, requiring balance across a wide breadth of disciplines, including: aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, controls, aero-thermodynamics, etc.
  • Guide the team to identify and resolve system-level architecture requirements issues
  • Identify and mitigate technical risks through risk-reduction testing campaigns
  • Lead the systems engineering approach and fill gaps in the team, which may include: creating or determining analysis uncertainties, creating and dispositioning requirements, mass properties management, guiding the configuration management of models, reviewing and approving documents/reports/analyses, setting engineering and design best practices and standards for the program, guiding the program’s engineering-manufacturing process, waiving or approving ground testing based on technical risk assessments, etc.
  • Lead the successful execution of design reviews to advance the program through manufacturing and into flight test
  • Create engineering staffing plans and identify skillset gaps in the team
  • Successfully collaborate with other departments for the success of the program and the engineering team, including: Manufacturing, Test and Operations, Human Resources, Program Management, Quality Assurance, etc.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Significant experience with the rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles, including full life-cycle involvement on at least two programs
  • Proficient with systems engineering practices, tools, and approaches
  • Significant experience as a design engineering lead and/or analyst on more than one vehicle subsystem
  • Significant experience leading or participating in ground and flight test campaigns
  • Experience with technical risk identification, management, and mitigation
  • Significant experience working with and maintaining customer relationships
  • Experience working in small engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities
  • Experience and comfort working in engineering environments without significant processes and guard-rails in place
  • Proficient with MS Office
  • Familiarity with configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA, etc.
  • Excellent written & verbal communication
  • Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Experience with hypersonic and supersonic vehicle development
  • Experience with air-launched vehicle development
  • Experience with rocket propulsion systems
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance
  • Experience with Siemens NX/Teamcenter
  • Significant hands-on aircraft build experience
  • Experience with JAMA requirements software

 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

  • Staff-Level ($128,500-$186,400): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • Principal-Level ($161,000-$233,500): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 20-25 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • Sr. Principal-Level ($202,000-$293,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 25+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • Eligible for up to 20% annual bonus (DoE)

 

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable:

  • This position is located in Mojave, CA. - An on-site work arrangement is strongly preferred. Hybrid work arrangements (minimum onsite presence of 50%) may be considered for highly-qualified candidates.
  • Travel estimated to be <10% in support of the program
  • #engineeringleadership #LI-Onsite #LI-WG1

Benefits and our location:

  • Relocation eligible to local area – Mojave, CA
  • 9/80 schedule
  • Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
  • Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
  • 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to the IRS annual limit
  • Tuition reimbursement

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located 95 miles north of Los Angeles. To outsiders it may seem like it is the middle-of-nowhere, but it offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California’s best attractions and landmarks. Hikers will find themselves within a 2-3 hours distance of some of the best state and national parks, including Yosemite and Sequoia in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Skiers will delight in being closely distanced to world-class resorts at Mammoth Mountain, Mountain High, and Big Bear. Beachgoers can find plenty of sand, sun, and sunsets at both Southern and Central California beaches like Ventura, Huntington, Santa Monica, and Pismo. The area also offers plenty of rural area for off-roading and horseback riding enthusiasts. 

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers. 

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Applicants must be a US Person to be considered for this role- 

To be considered for this position, applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined in 22 C.F.R. 120.67, which includes (a) U.S. citizens; (b) U.S. nationals; (c) U.S. lawful permanent residents; (d) persons granted refugee status; and (e) persons granted asylum.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law:
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Full address including Street, City, State, Zip

Select...
Select...

* Please note that our Relationships at Work policy prohibits the creation of a direct or indirect reporting relationship between an employee and a family member or someone with whom they have a personal relationship with.

Select...

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Stratolaunch’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.