Hypersonic Airframe Engineer

Job Description

Join North Wind – Accelerating Hypersonic Innovation

At North Wind, we are advancing hypersonic technologies through cutting‑edge research, system development, and flight testing. Our team drives innovation in high‑speed aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and mission‑critical components, supporting every phase of hypersonic programs—from R&D to flight testing. If you are passionate about pushing technological boundaries in a dynamic environment, we invite you to join us.

The Hypersonic Airframe Engineer will design, analyze, and synthesize hypersonic testbed vehicles. Responsible for internal and external lofting, packaging, and initial thermal‑structural sizing. This role combines technical expertise, creativity, and analytical skills to inform design space exploration and generate vehicle designs while adhering to industry standards and project requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in the initial phases of testbed vehicle development to explore and evaluate different configurations while working directly with teammates responsible for aerodynamic and propulsion analyses.
• Perform initial thermal and structural sizing trades.
• Perform initial packaging studies allocating appropriate volumes for internal components such as guidance electronics, power systems, fuel systems, and actuation systems while considering airframe manufacturing and assembly constraints.
• Predict vehicle mass properties in support of vehicle performance analyses.

Preferred

Education / Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering discipline;
• 5+ years of experience
• A combination of education and experience equivalent to above
• Specialization in high speed air breathing propulsion vehicle design
• Working knowledge of mechanical analyses including material trades, thermal analyses, and structural analyses

Preferred Knowledge / Ability:

• Experience with design and analysis of ramjet and scramjet powered vehicles
• Familiarity with conceptual vehicle layout
• US citizenship required to obtain/maintain a DOD security clearance
• Ability to obtain a government clearance