Hypersonic Test Infrastructure Engineer

Scientific Research Corporation • Alexandria, VA

2d

About The Position

Seeking an experienced and highly technical Hypersonic Test Infrastructure Engineer to directly support the Department of War (DoW) and the modernization of the nation's hypersonic test and evaluation infrastructure.
The DoW Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) plays a critical role in ensuring our warfighters have a decisive edge. TRMC ensures that DoW components have the appropriate test and evaluation (T&E) infrastructure required to develop and field military systems. This position will provide critical technical expertise to the TRMC’s support contractor team, enabling government oversight for a portfolio of cutting-edge hypersonic T&E infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert excited to apply their deep technical knowledge to ensure the successful design, development, and delivery of the next generation of hypersonic test capabilities.
Under the oversight of the Chief Engineer, the candidate will:
Serving as the primary technical expert for the engineering, construction, and modernization of hypersonic ground test facilities, especially wind tunnels for aerodynamic, heat transfer and propulsion testing
Providing direct, hands-on oversight for high priority hypersonic investment projects
Incorporating DoW-approved Generative AI (GenAI) tools into daily engineering workflows to accelerate analysis and document review
Working closely in an integrated team of discipline engineers (systems, mechanical, electrical, system safety) and project managers (financial, contracts, project controls) to achieve positive project outcomes

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 6+ years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in the design, analysis, fabrication, or operation of high-temperature, high-speed ground test facilities or similar complex hardware (e.g., rocket engines, gas turbines)
• Proven expertise using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS) for structural and thermal analysis of complex mechanical systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience writing detailed technical reports, taking excellent notes, and presenting engineering briefings to communicate status, findings, concerns, and risks to the government team
• Demonstrated ability to lead productive meetings to a decisive outcome by identifying root causes and holding participants accountable for defining a concrete plan of action
• Experience working collaboratively in a cross-functional or matrixed engineering team environment.
• A strong desire to learn, problem-solve, and apply technical rigor to challenging problems
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Software including Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Currently hold a Secret security clearance

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
• Specific, direct experience with hypersonic wind tunnels, arc jets, or plasma tunnels, particularly with high-temperature nozzle and heater sections
• Demonstrated understanding and regular use of Generative AI tools applied to engineering analysis, code generation, or document review
• Experience as a SETA team member evaluating the technical performance of Government contractors
• Familiarity with DoW weapon acquisition programs and their T&E needs
• Knowledge of advanced materials used in hypersonic environments, including refractory metals, ceramics, and carbon-carbon composites
• Familiarity with Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems for industrial facilities, such as high-pressure air systems, water cooling loops, and large-scale power distribution
• Top Secret security clearance

Responsibilities

• Conducting detailed technical reviews of contractor-delivered designs, drawings, and specifications for critical facility components, with a focus on high-temperature structures such as nozzles, throats, test cells, and heater systems
• Independently reviewing, assessing, and verifung contractor-provided Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and other engineering analyses for structural integrity, thermal performance, and material suitability
• Monitoring contractor progress during the manufacturing, fabrication, and assembly of key hardware, providing expert assessment of quality, compliance, and adherence to design specifications
• Providing subject matter expertise to the TRMC Hypersonic Project Office to support the development of the DoW's hypersonic ground test investment strategy
• Conducting technical assessments of existing national T&E infrastructure to help identify capability gaps, dependencies, and opportunities for modernization in response to emerging technologies and warfighter needs
• Preparing and presenting clear, concise technical assessments, white papers, and recommendations to the Chief Engineer and Government Program Manager to support design reviews and program milestones
• Attending workilevel meetings with the performer, contribute knowledge and insight, communicate concerns of the government team, document the meeting with detailed notes and follow up with summaries and action items. Excellent communication skills are required
• Serving as a key technical advisor during all performer-driven project reviews such as the System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs)
• Coordinating with the Lead Systems Engineer to ensure technical performance measures are met and that all system requirements are properly verified and validated
• Reviewing and providing technical input on contract deliverables
• Communicating complex engineering findings effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders and leadership
• Adhering to DoW/TRMC records management requirements
• Following administrative and sensitive data protection guidelines

Benefits

• SRC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with a company match, life insurance, vacation and sick paid time off accruals starting at 10 days of vacation and 5 days of sick leave annually, 11 paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, and a work environment that encourages excellence and more.
• For positions requiring a security clearance, selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level