Chief Engineer- Targets
- Pay
- $163,000 – $294,200 per year
- Location
- Mojave, CA · On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Executive
- Experience
- 20+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 30 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- Security clearance
- systems engineering
- GNC
- propulsion
- aerodynamics
- avionics
Also useful
- solid rocket motors
- hot structure airframes
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 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
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.
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law:
About Stratolaunch
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.
Equal opportunity and legal notices
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.
From Stratolaunch's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Chief Engineer- Targets role at Stratolaunch?
The Chief Engineer- Targets posting at Stratolaunch states compensation of $163,000 – $294,200 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Stratolaunch's official career site.
Where is the Chief Engineer- Targets job at Stratolaunch located?
This Chief Engineer- Targets position at Stratolaunch is located in Mojave, CA (On-site). Always check Stratolaunch's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Chief Engineer- Targets at Stratolaunch?
For the Chief Engineer- Targets role, Stratolaunch highlights 20+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with systems engineering, GNC, propulsion, aerodynamics, avionics. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Chief Engineer- Targets position at Stratolaunch?
This listing links directly to Stratolaunch's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Stratolaunch's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.