Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Lead Engineer.

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Lead Engineer based in the United States.

We are seeking an experienced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Lead Engineer to provide technical leadership and oversight for the development, integration, and operation of advanced aerospace test facilities. In this role, you will serve as a trusted technical advisor, overseeing the design and execution of large-scale high-speed wind tunnel capabilities supporting critical defense and aerospace programs. You will evaluate engineering designs, assess technical risks, and ensure that facility systems meet demanding safety, reliability, and performance requirements. Working alongside multidisciplinary engineering teams, government stakeholders, and contractors, you will influence major technical decisions throughout the project lifecycle. You will also contribute to program planning, executive reporting, and independent technical assessments. This is an opportunity to support next-generation hypersonic testing infrastructure and contribute to capabilities that strengthen national defense.

Accountabilities

As the Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Lead Engineer, you will provide comprehensive technical oversight of complex test infrastructure projects, ensuring engineering decisions, contractor deliverables, and facility operations align with government requirements.

Serve as the primary technical advisor to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), overseeing the design and execution of large-scale wind tunnel test facilities.

Act as the authoritative technical point of contact, providing engineering guidance and feedback to contractors to ensure compliance with safety, reliability, and performance requirements.

Evaluate wind tunnel designs, operational approaches, and test plans using extensive expertise in high-speed aerodynamics and test facility engineering.

Identify, assess, manage, and communicate technical risks while developing mitigation strategies in collaboration with project management leadership.

Represent the government program office in Integrated Product Team (IPT) meetings, Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), technical design reviews, and milestone reviews.

Conduct detailed technical reviews of contractor deliverables, including engineering designs, drawings, specifications, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies.

Perform independent verification analyses to validate contractor findings and coordinate with external subject matter experts, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs).

Lead and participate in safety reviews and audits, promoting a strong safety culture throughout facility development and operations.

Contribute to program planning and acquisition activities by developing Statements of Work (SOWs), Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), and facility requirements documentation.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams spanning mechanical, electrical, aerothermal, controls and instrumentation, systems engineering, cybersecurity, physical security, construction, and program management.

Translate complex technical information into clear, decision-ready insights for senior leadership and government stakeholders.

Lead executive briefings presenting engineering assessments, technical summaries, risk evaluations, and recommendations.

Review technical and administrative documentation to ensure compliance with sensitive data protection and information handling requirements.

Support project execution from initial design through construction, integration, testing, and final closeout.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced aerospace or defense engineering professional with specialized knowledge of wind tunnel facilities, complex system integration, and technical oversight. Strong communication, analytical, and project leadership skills are essential.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

At least 10 years of professional experience in the aerospace or defense industry.

Direct experience with the design, construction, operation, or modernization of large-scale Test and Evaluation (T&E) facilities, such as wind tunnels, arc jets, rocket test stands, or turbine test cells.

Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive technical reviews, evaluate engineering solutions, and resolve complex technical challenges.

Experience overseeing complex project phases, from initial design through completion and closeout.

Strong understanding of engineering principles related to mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems.

Experience integrating complex engineering systems.

Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate complex engineering data into executive-level recommendations and briefings.

Proven project management capabilities, with the ability to drive accountability, manage action plans, and maintain project momentum.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Active SECRET security clearance.

U.S. citizenship required due to government contracting and security clearance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.

Experience in Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) or comparable technical oversight environments.

Direct experience with customer-focused wind tunnel operations, including subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic aerodynamics or hypersonic propulsion testing.

Experience in facility engineering involving high-temperature and high-pressure systems.

Knowledge of instrumentation systems, data acquisition, and data analytics.

Familiarity with modern digital engineering, design, and analysis tools.

Experience using generative AI tools for engineering analysis, code generation, or technical document review.

Understanding of Department of War (DoW) acquisition programs and their associated testing and evaluation requirements.

Additional Requirements:

Ability to travel approximately 20% of the year, equivalent to around ten non-consecutive weeks.

Ability to work onsite in Alexandria, Virginia, or St. Paul, Minnesota, or remotely on a full-time basis if relocation is not an option.

Eligibility to maintain the required U.S. government security clearance throughout employment.

Benefits

Estimated annual starting salary range of $136,850 to $228,100, depending on education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and market conditions.

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.

Life insurance coverage.

Paid vacation and sick leave, with accrual amounts increasing based on role and years of service.

11 paid holidays annually.

Tuition reimbursement and opportunities for continued professional development.

Collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering environment.

Opportunities to contribute to advanced aerospace, defense, and hypersonic testing technologies.

Remote work option or onsite opportunities in Alexandria, VA, and St. Paul, MN.