Design Engineer

At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast. By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously. We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

What you’ll do

• Design and develop complex structures for hypersonic flight hardware operating under extreme thermal, vibrational, and mechanical loads.
• Own mechanical components from concept through detailed design, supporting analysis, manufacturing, and test.
• Work closely with stress, thermal, and systems engineers to ensure designs are structurally sound, analysable, and flight-ready.
• Translate loads, environments, and requirements into robust, lightweight, and manufacturable designs.
• Produce high-quality CAD, drawings, and technical documentation suitable for prototype and flight hardware.
• Support and incorporate design-for-manufacture and assembly (DFM/DFA) considerations early, working directly with suppliers and internal build teams.
• Participate in design reviews, test campaigns, and post-test iterations, closing the loop between analysis, hardware, and data rapidly.
• Operate in a fast-moving environment where designs evolve quickly and decisions have real hardware consequences., * A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

• A mechanical design engineer with >3 years’ experience in aerospace, space, defence, or similarly demanding hardware environments.
• Experienced designing metallic structures exposed to high vibration, dynamic loads, and elevated temperatures.
• Comfortable working at the interface of design and analysis, even if analysis is not your primary role.
• Practical and detail-oriented, with strong intuition for how parts are actually manufactured, assembled, and tested.
• Fluent in modern CAD and drawing practices, with a high bar for clarity, accuracy, and build readiness.
• Someone who values first-principles engineering over over-process or theoretical perfection.
• Comfortable working with incomplete information, making sound engineering judgements, and iterating quickly.
• Motivated by building real flight hardware in a small, elite team where your work directly affects mission success.