Chief Engineer- Targets
- Level
- Mid
Not stated in the posting: salary, work type, visa.
Open. First seen 2 October 2026.
About the role
Stratolaunch's standard text
Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.
Stratolaunch is seeking a high-impact technical leader to be Chief Engineer to support its growing hypersonic targets portfolio. This position will support the Office of the Chief Engineer for targets, with a focus on development programs. In this role, you will be trusted to lead people, develop and execute technical strategies for open-ended problems, manage risk, and communicate successfully with internal and external customers.
The ideal candidate is a demonstrated technical leader and team player with significant experience pertinent to air-launched missile and/or target system development.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Partner with Stratolaunch and customer leadership to drive successful program execution
- Apply Systems Engineering principles to control scope, manage risk, and drive quality technical execution
- Facilitate successful technical meetings and reviews such as Engineering Review Board and technical gate reviews. (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR)
- Lead trade studies and make final technical decisions, requiring balance across a wide breadth of disciplines to include: aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC, and payloads
- Create engineering staffing plans and identify skillset gaps in the team
- Support whitepapers, proposals and other business development activities
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated success as an engineering team leader with experience balancing cost, schedule, and technical performance considerations when making decisions
- Experience acting as a system integrator
- Experience leading a technical team through missile and/or hypersonic flight vehicle development
- Technical subject matter expertise in at least one technical domain of relevance (aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, airframe, GNC), which sufficient breadth to lead a multi-disciplinary development team.
- Ability to effectively manage relationship with key stakeholders, including government customers
- Demonstrated success applying analytical and critical thinking skills to solve multi-disciplinary, open-ended technical problems
- Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment to achieve business goals
- Experience supporting defense contracts
- US Citizen with the ability to obtain a DOD security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated success as a Chief Engineer on missile and/or hypersonic flight vehicle development programs
- Hypersonic/high-speed tactical missile experience highly desirable (e.g. multi-stage systems, hot structure airframes, launch platform integration)
- Experience with solid rocket motor propulsion systems
- Experience transitioning developmental systems to production
- Active TS/SCI security clearance
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Principal-Level ($163,000 - $229,352): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 20-25 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Principal-Level ($205,000 - $294,200): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 25+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable:
- This position is located in Mojave, CA.
- Applicants must be a US Person able to obtain a security clearance to be considered for this role.
- Travel estimated to be <10% in support of the program.
Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.
Benefits and our location(s):
- Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
- 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
- Tuition reimbursement
Stratolaunch's standard text
This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.
Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.
Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.
Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.
Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.
For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Stratolaunch's standard text
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
What this role asks for
70% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Stratolaunch's standard text, folded away below.
Read against Stratolaunch's other open postings on this site.
The team: Engineering HIRES STEADILY
This role is one of 27 open in Engineering. 7 were posted in the last 30 days and the oldest in May: a team that hires all year rather than one being built.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
Excel (23 of 27), Jira (16 of 27), MATLAB (14 of 27), Python (14 of 27), SolidWorks (14 of 27), Git (12 of 27), CATIA (9 of 27)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Structural Analyst posted Oct 15
- Engineering Section Manager - Avionics posted Oct 15
- Technical Staff, Mechanical Systems posted Oct 10
- Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead posted Sep 21
- Avionics Mechanical Engineer posted Sep 21
- Avionics Engineering Technician posted Sep 21
- Propulsion Engineer - Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) SME posted Sep 10
- Data Systems / Network Engineer posted Sep 9
- Materials & Process Engineer posted Sep 3
- Project Engineer posted Sep 2
- Technical Staff, Guidance Navigation and Controls (GNC) posted Sep 1
- Sr. Engineering Technician – EMI/EMC Testing posted Aug 17
- Flight Termination System Engineer posted Jul 29
- Mechanical Engineer, Technical Lead posted Jul 7
- Environmental Test Systems Engineer (LabVIEW) posted Jul 6
- GNC Engineer posted Jun 30
- Flight Software Engineer posted May 20
- Structural/Mechanical Engineer posted Apr 28
- Flight Sciences Engineer posted Apr 22
- Avionics Design Engineer posted Apr 8
- Avionics Telemetry Engineer posted Mar 25
- GNC Engineer, Navigation-focused posted Mar 20
- Systems Engineer posted Mar 20
- Electrical Engineer posted Sep 22
- Systems Test Engineer posted Aug 22
- Senior Environmental Test Systems Engineer (LabVIEW) posted May 7
From the team and dates on Stratolaunch's own job board.
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