Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Lead Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Minnesota.

📋 Description

• Providing technical oversight and evaluation of contractors.

• Acting as the primary technical advisor to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), supervising the design and implementation of a wind tunnel test capability by the design-build prime contractor.

• Serving as the authoritative technical Point of Contact (POC), offering essential feedback and strategic direction to the contractor to ensure that designs meet government safety, reliability, and performance standards.

• Utilizing extensive knowledge of wind tunnel design, operations, and test planning to identify, manage, and communicate technical risks, and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with the Assistant Project Manager (APM).

• Representing the government program office at contractor-led Integrated Product Team (IPT) meetings, Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), technical design reviews, and milestone assessments, applying subject matter expertise to provide insights and convey government inquiries and concerns to the contractor.

• Performing thorough technical evaluations of contractor-generated designs, drawings, specifications, and analyses, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

• Validating contractor technical findings through independent verification analyses and coordinating with external subject matter experts, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), and others to evaluate risks and inform government decision-making.

• Demonstrating a strong commitment to safety by leading and participating in safety reviews and audits.

• Contributing to programmatic planning by creating Statements of Work (SOW), Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), and facility requirement documentation.

• Collaborating effectively within a highly matrixed team of mechanical, electrical, aerothermal, controls and instrumentation, and systems engineers, as well as program management, program controls, physical security, cybersecurity, and construction professionals.

• Converting complex project data into actionable insights; leading executive briefings to present technical summaries, risk assessments, and recommendations to facilitate government actions and decisions.

• Ensuring compliance by reviewing internal and external work products for adherence to administrative and sensitive data protection protocols.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, along with over 10 years of experience in the aerospace or defense sector.

• Hands-on experience with the design, construction, operation, and/or modernization of large-scale Test and Evaluation (T&E) facilities, including wind tunnels, arc jets, rocket stands, turbine cells, etc.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct in-depth technical reviews and assessments, resolve intricate technical challenges, and oversee project phases from initial design through to completion.

• Exceptional communication skills, with a proven track record of translating complex engineering information into decision-ready presentations for government and contractor stakeholders.

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

• Experience in integrating complex systems.

• Knowledge of engineering principles related to mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems.

• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office 365 suite of software.

• Must hold an active SECRET security clearance.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.

• 401(k) with company matching.

• Life insurance.

• Accrual of paid vacation and sick time starting at 10 days of vacation and 5 days of sick leave annually.

• 11 paid holidays.

• Tuition reimbursement.

• A work environment that promotes excellence and more.