As a Flight Operations & Airworthiness Engineering Intern at Hermeus, you will support the planning, development, and execution of flight operations and airworthiness activities for the Quarterhorse aircraft.
This role is ideal for an engineering student with practical aviation experience who is interested in the cross functional intersection of flight operations, flight test, safety, and airworthiness. You will contribute to professional technical deliverables supporting military and civil airworthiness packages, assist with risk assessments and data analysis, and support strategic planning that will advance longer-term program objectives.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who can take ownership of complex, ambiguous problems; develop a path forward; and communicate clearly across internal and external teams. This internship offers direct exposure to the unique challenges of operating and certifying high-performance experimental aircraft in a fast-paced development environment.
Responsibilities:
- Support the development of airworthiness, flight operations, and safety documentation for experimental aircraft operations.
- Assist in preparing professional technical deliverables for military and civil airworthiness packages.
- Support operational-risk analysis, including hazard identification, risk tracking, and management of operational constraints and mitigations.
- Apply engineering fundamentals and statistical methods to assess operational data, characterize risk, and support envelope an operational expansion.
- Collaborate with engineering, flight test, operations, and program teams to collect technical inputs and ensure airworthiness artifacts are accurate, complete, and traceable.
- Independently identify and effectively communicate gaps, inefficiencies, and upcoming needs in flight operations and airworthiness processes.
- Support longer-range planning by identifying work that advances programmatic milestones and airworthiness objectives well ahead of formal tasking.
Requirements:
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or graduate degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
Undergraduate candidates should be in their junior or senior year of study; graduate students are also encouraged to apply. - Demonstrated interest in aviation, flight test, flight operations, or airworthiness.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, professional technical documentation.
- Strong mathematical and analytical skills, including the ability to organize, interpret, and draw conclusions from engineering or test data.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with shifting priorities.
- Demonstrated initiative and comfort working through ambiguous technical or operational problems without a fully defined path.
- Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and commitment to safe operations.
- GPA of 3.0 or above.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Manned or unmanned aircraft pilot experience or comparable flight experience.
- Experience with experimental aircraft, flight test, aircraft maintenance, aviation safety, or airworthiness activities.
- Experience designing, building, testing, or operating vehicles through internships, academic work, student teams, military service, or personal projects.
- Familiarity with risk-management methods, safety assessments, reliability analysis, statistical analysis, or data-analysis tools.
- Exposure to civil or military aviation regulations, certification processes, flight authorizations, or airworthiness documentation.
- Experience developing technical reports, engineering analyses, test procedures, or operational documentation.
- A strong desire to learn, seek feedback, and take on progressively greater responsibility.
The hourly rate listed for this internship is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on degree level.
- Time Off: Interns are eligible for 5 days of sick leave and unpaid time off.
- Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms.
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Skills Required
- Currently pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, systems engineering, or a related STEM discipline
- Undergraduate candidates must be in their junior or senior year; graduate students are encouraged to apply
- Demonstrated interest in aviation, flight test, flight operations, or airworthiness
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong mathematical and analytical skills, including interpreting engineering or test data
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
- Initiative and comfort working through ambiguous technical or operational problems
- Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and commitment to safe operations
- GPA of 3.0 or above
- Manned or unmanned aircraft pilot experience or comparable flight experience
- Experience with experimental aircraft, flight test, aircraft maintenance, aviation safety, or airworthiness activities
- Experience designing, building, testing, or operating vehicles
- Familiarity with risk management, safety assessments, reliability analysis, statistical analysis, or data analysis tools
- Exposure to civil or military aviation regulations, certification processes, flight authorizations, or airworthiness documentation
- Experience developing technical reports, engineering analyses, test procedures, or operational documentation
- Strong desire to learn, seek feedback, and take on progressively greater responsibility
Hermeus Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Hermeus and has not been reviewed or approved by Hermeus.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare is described as employer-paid for employees and dependents, including dental and vision. Feedback suggests this substantially reduces healthcare burden and strengthens overall total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — The package includes unlimited PTO for exempt employees, generous accrued PTO for non‑exempt staff, and observed federal holidays. Feedback suggests this breadth aims to support work‑life balance.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock options are guaranteed with all full‑time offers, with potential for additional grants based on performance. Feedback suggests this provides ownership upside alongside base pay and bonuses.
Hermeus Insights
What We Do
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and test of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. Working directly with the Department of Defense, Hermeus delivers capabilities that will ensure that our nation, and our allies, maintain an asymmetric advantage over any and all potential adversaries. Utilizing an integrated, hardware-rich, iterative development approach to aircraft design and build, Hermeus aims to deliver advanced air power at a pace not seen in the U.S. since the 1950s. Hermeus’ current Quarterhorse Program is actively unlocking unmanned high-speed flight. One program, four aircraft – each purpose-built to unlock a specific technical challenge, advance learnings, and incrementally de-risk critical technology in the pursuit of hypersonic aircraft. Today, Hermeus is building its second Quarterhorse vehicle, Mk 2, after having designed, built, and flight tested its predecessor, Mk 1, in 18 months. Capable of reaching speeds of Mach 3+, Quarterhorse Mk 2 will be the fastest uncrewed military aircraft in service for national defense. The final iteration of Quarterhorse, Mk 4, will be capable of transitioning from turbofan to ramjet mode utilizing a Hermeus-developed turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion system to achieve sustained speeds of Mach 5+. Hermeus' approach of build-fly-build lays the groundwork for unlocking hypersonic flight at a pace and cost previously deemed impossible. America needs fast planes fast – and Hermeus is delivering them.
Why Work With Us
We prioritize hardware and people. Cutting-edge technology is only made possible by bringing together a world-class team. At Hermeus, you will be challenged – but also empowered. We encourage calculated risks taking and learning from our mistakes. Iteration is the name of the game.
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