Flight Sciences Engineer

About the role

Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a level II or Sr-level Flight Sciences Engineer to support the conceptual design and aerodynamic analyses of hypersonic vehicles. Candidates must have a strong foundation in aerodynamics and flight mechanics, including stability and control, aerodynamic model development, flight simulation, computation fluid dynamics (CFD), and/or relevant wind tunnel testing. Experience with aircraft design and aerodynamic/performance analyses across the speed range from subsonic to hypersonic, is highly desired.

As a Flight Science Engineer, you will contribute to a small hypersonic advanced design team, designing current and future Stratolaunch hypersonic vehicles. Your tasking may include conceptual design trade studies, detailed design and analysis tasks, development of analytical tools to support the team, and flight test support of currently operating vehicles.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

- Perform vehicle trajectory analysis and optimization on current and future vehicles

- Contribute to development of aerodynamic databases using analytical, numerical, ground and flight test data

- Perform analytical and numerical analyses to evaluate the aerodynamics, performance, and stability & control of hypersonic vehicles

- Develop aerodynamic models for a variety of hypersonic vehicle configurations

- Contribute to flight performance simulations through modeling and/or aerodynamic analyses

- Analyze wind tunnel and flight test data, as required

- Develop advanced design tools, as required

- Support the preparation of business proposals to the US Government and industry

- Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity, and fulfillment of commitments

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

- Knowledge of, and experience with aerodynamics, performance, stability & control, and atmospheric aerospace vehicle design

- Experience with subsonic, transonic, or supersonic theory and analyses

- Ability to self-start, work with urgency, and on their own initiative, and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals