Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.
To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Dynamics Engineer to contribute to the development of an air-launched, hypersonic flight vehicle. This position includes owning the aeroelastic analysis, ground vibration testing, model correlation, and aeroelastic flight test of the hypersonic vehicle. This position also includes contributing to the vehicle’s structural and GNC technical performance, including meeting design and mission requirements, resolving technical challenges, and implementing technology upgrades that improve the competitive basis of the vehicle’s architecture.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES- Lead the aeroelastic development of a hypersonic vehicle (analysis, ground test, and flight test)
- Perform aeroelastic analysis and report flutter margins against program requirements
- Perform aeroservoelastic analysis of hypersonic vehicle, as required, to support the GNC team
- Create and maintain models required to support other teams, such as a structural flex model for the GNC team
- Lead and perform ground tests, as required, to anchor the flutter model and perform other structural dynamic tests
- Develop instrumentation requirements for your domain and communicate them to the instrumentation engineers
- Support flight test and post-test analysis of the hypersonic vehicle, as required
- Evaluate vehicle loads and environments as it pertains to your models and analysis (such as gust, vibration, acoustics, etc.)
- Contribute to the structural FE model of the airframe using finite element analysis tools
- Create analysis reports and design review content to support the documentation and technical review of your area
- Contribute to vehicle loads development, as required
- Participate in the gathering of test data from other subsystems, as it pertains to your model inputs and analysis
- Evaluate risks and develop risk mitigation plans for structural dynamics
- Regular and comprehensive communication to the Structures, Aerodynamics, and GNC Lead
- Travel, as needed, to support the company
- Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments
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:
- Strong fundamental structures and/or dynamics background
- Experience with the design, modeling, and analysis of composite structures using FEMAP/Nastran analysis software
- Experience with aeroelastic modelling using NASTRAN or ZAERO
- Strong data processing and modeling skills with python or MATLAB
- Experience with aeroelastic ground testing and/or model correlation
- Experience with vehicle loads development
- Experience with vehicle or structural ground testing
- Ability to communicate technical challenges and guidance to varied audiences to present technical solutions and resolve questions
- Ability to work on their own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals
- Complex aerospace system development
- Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development
- Experience with Python, C++, Matlab, etc. for data analysis automation and numerically modelling and simulation
- Experience with flutter flight test and analysis
- Experience with air-launched vehicle development
- Experience with system dynamics closed loop feedback and control design as well as aeroservoelastic analysis
- Experience with FAR25 loads
- Active S, TS, and/or SCI security clearance
Required Computer Skills:
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)
- NASTRAN
- MATLAB
- ZAERO
- IADS
- 3D CAD experience
Preferred Computer Skills:
- Configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA, etc.
- FEMAP
- Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter
- Sr. Dynamics Engineer ($142,000 - $174,700): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
- Staff Dynamics Engineer ($128,000 - $227,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable
- This position is located in Mojave, CA. Consideration for remote position for well-qualified candidates.
- Travel is required. Approx 20%
Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.
Benefits and our location(s):
- Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
- 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
- Tuition reimbursement
This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.
Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.
Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.
Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.
Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
Skills Required
- Strong fundamental structures and/or dynamics background
- Experience designing, modeling, and analyzing composite structures using FEMAP/Nastran
- Experience with aeroelastic modeling using NASTRAN or ZAERO
- Strong data processing and modeling skills using Python or MATLAB
- Experience with aeroelastic ground testing and/or model correlation
- Experience with vehicle loads development
- Experience with vehicle or structural ground testing
- Ability to communicate technical challenges and guidance to varied audiences
- Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks according to business goals
- Experience with complex aerospace system development
- Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 5–10 years of relevant experience, or equivalent education and experience
- Microsoft Office proficiency, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- NASTRAN experience
- MATLAB experience
- ZAERO experience
- IADS experience
- 3D CAD experience
- Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development
- Experience using Python, C++, or MATLAB for data-analysis automation and numerical modeling and simulation
- Experience with flutter flight testing and analysis
- Experience with air-launched vehicle development
- Experience with system-dynamics closed-loop feedback, control design, and aeroservoelastic analysis
- Experience with FAR 25 loads
- Active Secret, Top Secret, and/or SCI security clearance
- Configuration-management systems experience, such as JIRA, Git, or Jama
- FEMAP experience
- Siemens NX and Teamcenter experience
Stratolaunch Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Stratolaunch and has not been reviewed or approved by Stratolaunch.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Fair & Transparent Compensation: Pay is considered competitive for many roles, with posted ranges for engineers and specialized hourly positions that indicate robust bands. Public self-reported packages also point to strong totals for some technical titles.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Coverage includes multiple PPO/HMO options with HSA/HRA support and employer seeding, plus a monthly health-club reimbursement. These elements indicate comprehensive medical choices accompanied by meaningful wellness perks.
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Retirement Support — Retirement Support: A 401(k) program offers a company match up to an annual cap with a two‑year vesting schedule. This structure stands out as a meaningful long‑term savings benefit.
Stratolaunch Insights
What We Do
Stratolaunch LLC designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need to significantly advance U.S. hypersonic flight test capabilities and help improve the nation’s ability to design and operate cutting edge hypersonic vehicles. Our hypersonic testbeds will provide customizable, reusable, and affordable access to the Mach 5+ flight regime. We are delivering the world’s premiere hypersonic flight test services.
Why Work With Us
We offer customers the ability to perform risk reduction via affordable and routine flight test for their critical technologies. We offer an operationally realistic environment, enabling us to test in the subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes. With our reusable and low-cost system, customers can rapidly iterate the design of their t
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