About the role
Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.
About The Role:
This role sits at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, integration and test for flight vehicles. You'll be embedded with design and production teams, owning everything from hardware design, tooling, testing and flight readiness to process development and vehicle assembly.
\n- Lead detailed project planning and drive hardware delivery on aggressive timelines.
- Collaborate directly with high level design concepts turning them into detailed designs including final geometry, material selection and DFM.
- Drive the transition from prototype to production for complex aerospace assemblies.
- Ruthlessly question process complexity—delete parts, eliminate waste, simplify flow.
- Design and implement full-stack build processes—factory layout, tooling, test flow, and vehicle integration.
- Develop and run test procedures for flight hardware.
- Serve as a force multiplier across production, test, and design teams.
- Strong engineering first principles.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing, or related engineering field.
- Hands-on experience with physical hardware (internships, labs, project teams all count).
- Proven ability to design, build, break, and iterate quickly.
- Comfort with CAD, test equipment, hand tools.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes (machining, welding, forming, etc.) and GD&T fundamentals.
- Designed and released flight hardware.
- Familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter and NX.
- Leadership experience on project teams or in mentorship roles.
- You’ve built something that’s flown, broken, or both.
- Experience standing up production lines or test infrastructure in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be willing to travel to test sites, other Hermeus offices, and partner locations as needed (up to 25% travel)
The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.
At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.
Benefits:
- Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
- Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
- Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
- Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
About Hermeus
Hermeus is an aerospace and defense company that develops hypersonic aircraft capable of reaching speeds around Mach 5. The company’s core mission is to drastically reduce global travel times by creating next-generation aircraft that can fly significantly faster than traditional commercial jets. Its flagship programs include the Quarterhorse series of high-speed test aircraft and the development of the Chimera engine, a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system designed for hypersonic flight. Hermeus follows a rapid, iterative development approach, building and testing multiple prototypes to accelerate innovation and reduce engineering timelines. The company collaborates with organizations such as the U.S. Air Force and NASA, positioning its technology for both commercial aviation and defense applications.
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Job details
Salary
$91,800 - $140,250
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Funding
Total raised
$363.3M
Last stage
Series C
Investors
Founders
What happens next.
No applications, no recruiter spam. Just the intro.
Confirm the fit
A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.
I pitch you to the company
I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.
A meeting lands on your calendar
If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.