Performance Engineer

Hermeus•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer focused on the rapid design, build, and test of high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft for the national interest. Working directly with the Department of Defense, Hermeus delivers capabilities that will ensure that our nation, and our allies, maintain an asymmetric advantage over any and all potential adversaries. In your role as a Performance Engineer, you will be responsible for analyzing, modeling, and optimizing aircraft and propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position requires strong expertise in gas turbine engine cycles, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics to support aircraft development, certification, and operational excellence.

Requirements

Bachelorâs degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
Strong foundation in thermodynamics, compressible flow, gas turbine engine cycles, and aerodynamics.
Experience with propulsion performance modeling and aircraft performance analysis
Proficiency in MATLAB and Python
Demonstrated ability to interpret and validate complex engineering data sets.

Nice To Haves

Masterâs degree in Aerospace Engineering with focus on propulsion, aerothermodynamics, or combustion.
Experience supporting turbofan engine development programs
Background in CFD, Large Eddy Simulation (LES), or reduced-order modeling techniques.
Exposure to experimental aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, or high-speed flow diagnostics.

Responsibilities

Perform thermodynamic cycle analysis of turbofan engines, evaluating thrust, TSFC, efficiency, operability margins, and performance across the flight envelope.
Develop, validate, and maintain propulsion system performance models to support aircraft integration, certification, and customer deliverables.
Generate aircraft and engine performance data for flight manuals, flight computers, and executive-level program assessments.
Conduct runway and mission performance analyses
Support engine-airframe integration efforts, including takeoff thrust optimization and safety-focused performance methodologies.
Author and execute flight test plans to evaluate propulsion robustness, operability, and early design maturity.
Contribute to advanced combustion and fluid dynamics modeling efforts
Support experimental testing efforts including aeroacoustics, flow visualization (Schlieren), wind tunnel testing, and telemetry data analysis.
Play a key role within our HEAT (High-Enthalpy Airflow Test) facility, including sizing, analyzing, and optimizing this world-class test infrastructure.