Senior Conceptual Design Engineer, Advanced Concepts

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Translate hypersonic vehicle mission requirements into configuration baselines and first-order sizing (mass, volume, aerodynamic performance, propulsion match, range, payload, and speed)
• Perform trajectory- and mission-coupled concept trades, closing multidisciplinary trades across aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, thermal and TPS mass budgets, manufacturability, and mission effectiveness.
• Assess architectural alternatives, identify early technical risks and retirement paths, and present trade studies and recommendations that drive vehicle-level decisions.
• Define requirements and validation needs for MDAO and conceptual sizing models used in hypersonic concept design; partner with the MDAO team to keep models decision-relevant.
• Apply engineering-fidelity aerodynamic and configuration methods (for example Missile DATCOM, OpenVSP, panel or vortex methods, and surrogate models) and judge when higher-fidelity discipline results should change the…
• Develop conceptual-level CAD geometry and outer mold line layouts to mature concepts toward preliminary design, collaborating with Air Vehicle Design Engineers as designs progress.
• Mentor junior conceptual designers and raise the bar on early-design rigor and engineering judgment.

Job requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace vehicle design, conceptual design, or related advanced aerospace development.
• Demonstrated experience in hypersonic or high-speed atmospheric conceptual design across multiple vehicle programs, including configuration development, vehicle sizing, and architecture-level trades.
• Strong working understanding of vehicle performance, aerodynamics, propulsion integration, structures, mass properties, aerothermal tradeoffs, and multidisciplinary design at conceptual and preliminary design fidelity.
• Demonstrated ability to close competing system requirements into vehicle architecture recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to mentor junior conceptual designers and raise the bar on early-design rigor and engineering judgment.
• Master's or Ph.D. degree with focus in hypersonics, vehicle design, or a closely related field.