What you'll do
- Responsible for target costing, driving cost/weight trade-off studies for product & production, and should costing purposes: drive real-time design-to-cost and design-to-value trade-offs within Hypersonica's rapid, iterative development cycles
- Build and maintain product cost models, creating transparency on cost structures and key drivers across materials, manufacturing, assembly, and test
- Act as the critical interface between commercial/finance and engineering, ensuring cost is embedded in every decision from early concept through to flight-ready hardware
- Lead make-vs-buy analyses as the company scales toward manufacturing, and model the cost implications of Hypersonica's modular architecture, including variant management and upgrade paths
- Support the supply chain management team to exchange with key suppliers and be part of the tendering process
- Develop affordability and life-cycle cost models tailored to European defence procurement frameworks, supporting Hypersonica's mission to make hypersonic capability accessible across NATO
- Support the programme team in preparing competitive offers and cost estimations
Who you are
- Experience: 5+ years in cost and value engineering in a defence or aerospace context
- Outstanding analytical capabilities
- Education: Degree in industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, or design engineering (or equivalent)
- Technical depth: Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and cost drivers for advanced metals (including high-temperature alloys), composites, thermal protection systems, propulsion components, and electronics/semiconductors
- Methods & tools: Experience with should-cost modelling, parametric estimation, or simulation-based cost engineering
- Defence context: Familiarity with European defence procurement and export control regimes (e.g. ITAR/EAR) is a strong plus
- Mindset: Entrepreneurial, hands-on, and comfortable with ambiguity ready to build this function from scratch in a fast-moving startup where you'll operate autonomously and wear multiple hats
What we offer
A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.
Skills Required
- 5+ years in cost and value engineering in a defence or aerospace context
- Degree in industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, or design engineering (or equivalent)
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and cost drivers for advanced metals
- Experience with should-cost modelling, parametric estimation, or simulation-based cost engineering
- Familiarity with European defence procurement and export control regimes
What We Do
Hypersonica is a mission-driven European defense and aerospace company that develops next-generation hypersonic systems for military and civilian applications. Founded in 2023, the company aims to equip European allies with sovereign, cost-effective hypersonic strike capabilities. By utilizing a modular architecture and rapid iteration, they significantly reduce development costs and timelines, focusing on enhancing Europe's defense autonomy and technological independence in a complex global security environment.
