About Our Client
Throughout history, eras of humanity have been defined by breakthroughs in transportation — from horse-drawn chariots to ocean vessels to aircraft. Each leap was driven by small groups of people determined to expand access to the world.
Our client is building the next transportation layer: space.
Their mission is to enable routine movement between orbit and Earth, unlocking global access without borders. To achieve this, they are developing highly maneuverable re-entry vehicles capable of remaining in orbit before executing precise landings back on Earth.
The Opportunity
Our client is seeking a Senior Aerospace Systems Engineer to join an elite Special Projects team within the Office of the CTO.
This is a small, high-impact group tasked with conceiving and developing entirely new technologies and vehicle concepts. The team operates like a skunkworks, working from first principles to rapidly ideate, design, prototype, and test breakthrough systems.
This environment is intentionally fast-moving and ambiguous. If you thrive on building new technologies from scratch and tackling problems others consider impossible, this role offers a rare opportunity to help define the future of space transportation.
What You’ll Do
- Partner directly with the CTO to develop new hypersonic and re-entry vehicle concepts
- Lead system-level design and performance modeling of advanced flight systems
- Conduct trajectory analysis, GNC trade studies, and vehicle performance optimization
- Create conceptual and detailed CAD models for new systems and subsystems
- Translate high-level concepts into technical proposals that secure contracts and drive development
- Run 6DOF simulations, build prototypes, and validate designs through experimentation
- Drive technical decisions independently and move ideas from concept to reality
Required Experience
- 10+ years in aerospace engineering with a focus on vehicle design, analysis, and integration
- Experience designing hypersonic, launch, or re-entry vehicle systems
- Strong background in:
- Flight dynamics
- Aerothermodynamics
- Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)
- Trajectory and performance analysis
- Proficiency in CAD and mechanical design for aerospace systems
- Proven ability to design, prototype, and validate new hardware from scratch
- Strong first-principles engineering mindset
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly autonomous environment
Nice to Have
- Experience with hypersonic or re-entry systems
- Familiarity with 6DOF modeling and simulation environments
- Startup or early-stage company experience
- Experience integrating mechanical, aerodynamic, and thermal systems
- Demonstrated ability to rapidly prototype unconventional solutions
Location
This role is fully onsite in Playa Vista, California.
Compensation
Base salary: $170,000 – $200,000
Compensation is determined by experience, skillset, and market alignment. Final offers may vary based on interview performance, education, certifications, and internal equity.
Compliance
Due to ITAR regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible for authorization from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
Our client is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.