In your role as a Performance Engineer, you will be responsible for analyzing, modeling, and optimizing aircraft and propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position requires strong expertise in gas turbine engine cycles, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics to support aircraft development, certification, and operational excellence.
Responsibilities:
- Perform thermodynamic cycle analysis of turbofan engines, evaluating thrust, TSFC, efficiency, operability margins, and performance across the flight envelope.
- Develop, validate, and maintain propulsion system performance models to support aircraft integration, certification, and customer deliverables.
- Generate aircraft and engine performance data for flight manuals, flight computers, and executive-level program assessments.
- Conduct runway and mission performance analyses
- Support engine-airframe integration efforts, including takeoff thrust optimization and safety-focused performance methodologies.
- Author and execute flight test plans to evaluate propulsion robustness, operability, and early design maturity.
- Contribute to advanced combustion and fluid dynamics modeling efforts
- Support experimental testing efforts including aeroacoustics, flow visualization (Schlieren), wind tunnel testing, and telemetry data analysis.
- Play a key role within our HEAT (High-Enthalpy Airflow Test) facility, including sizing, analyzing, and optimizing this world-class test infrastructure.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
- Strong foundation in thermodynamics, compressible flow, gas turbine engine cycles, and aerodynamics.
- Experience with propulsion performance modeling and aircraft performance analysis
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Python
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and validate complex engineering data sets.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering with focus on propulsion, aerothermodynamics, or combustion.
- Experience supporting turbofan engine development programs
- Background in CFD, Large Eddy Simulation (LES), or reduced-order modeling techniques.
- Exposure to experimental aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, or high-speed flow diagnostics.
- Strong systems-level thinking with attention to both detailed analysis and program-level impacts.
- Demonstrated leadership in technical initiatives or cross-functional collaboration.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Strong foundation in thermodynamics, compressible flow, gas turbine engine cycles, and aerodynamics
- Experience with propulsion performance modeling and aircraft performance analysis
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Python
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and validate complex engineering data sets
- Strong systems-level thinking with attention to detailed analysis and program-level impacts
- Demonstrated leadership in technical initiatives or cross-functional collaboration
- Must be a U.S. person eligible for deemed export licensing (U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee)
- Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering with focus on propulsion, aerothermodynamics, or combustion
- Experience supporting turbofan engine development programs
- Background in CFD, Large Eddy Simulation (LES), or reduced-order modeling techniques
- Exposure to experimental aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, or high-speed flow diagnostics
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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