Chief Engineer, Hypersonic Vehicle

About this role

Stratolaunch seeks a Chief Engineer to provide top technical leadership for hypersonic air vehicle development programs. This role requires an experienced aerospace leader to drive technical strategy, manage cross-disciplinary trade studies, oversee system integration, and serve as the primary technical authority while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.

What you'll do

• Partner with program leadership and support functions to execute customer programs successfully
• Act as program integrator and lead technical decision-making across multiple disciplines
• Conduct and lead trade studies spanning aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, controls, and aero-thermodynamics
• Develop and execute technical strategies for complex, open-ended hypersonic vehicle challenges
• Manage technical risk and communicate status to internal and external customers
• Provide technical authority and oversight for aircraft systems, certification, and operational requirements

What they're looking for

• Hypersonic vehicle design and development
• Aerospace systems integration
• Aircraft certification knowledge
• Multi-disciplinary trade study analysis
• Technical leadership and team management
• Risk management
• Aerodynamics, propulsion, and structural analysis
• Stakeholder communication and customer management

Likely interview questions

• Describe your experience leading hypersonic or high-speed vehicle programs from concept through flight testing.
• Walk us through a complex trade study you led involving aerodynamics, propulsion, and structures—how did you balance competing requirements?