Senior Operations and Test Engineer

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

About The Role:

As a Senior Operations and Test Engineer at Hermeus, you will help develop, test, and operate advanced aircraft systems through hands-on integration, checkout, development testing, and taxi test campaigns. This role blends engineering, operations, and automation, with a focus on building standardized processes and tools that make vehicle testing safer, faster, and more repeatable. You will work closely with technicians, specialists, and cross-functional engineering teams to support hardware integration, troubleshoot off-nominal results, improve test readiness, and turn lessons learned into better procedures, equipment, and workflows. This is a fast-paced, hands-on role for someone who is comfortable working around complex and hazardous systems, enjoys solving problems in real time, and can help drive reliable operations in a rapid hardware development environment.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and standardize procedures/automation for the checkouts, integration, development testing, and taxi testing of new and flight-proven vehicles, rapidly iterating based on lessons learned

• Design software and automation tools to enable autonomous vehicle operations, and to conduct vehicle system testing in ways that reduce complexity

• Assist with integration and testing of flight hardware, partnering with and providing direction to highly skilled field technicians and specialists daily

• Ensure test and flight readiness by reviewing test results and working with other teams to resolve off-nominal test results, collaborating with engineering staff from other departments and locations on a regular basis

• Identify opportunities to improve existing processes and equipment to eliminate small scale production waste

• Manage work orders and drive non-conformances into actionable items and systematic improvements

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

• 3+ years of experience with mechanical, electrical and/or fluid systems

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Expert level first-principles engineering knowledge

• Experience working with a variety of software systems and writing/de-bugging code

• Experience writing test plans and test procedures

• Experience (preferably hands-on) working on projects that involve the integration of electrical, mechanical, and software systems

• Professional experience testing and operating with or around hazardous systems (high voltage, high pressure, combustible fluids, etc.)

• Professional experience working with large assembly moves (e.g. crane operations)

• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with a wide range of people

• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere

• Ability to learn, lead others, and help others learn while maintaining productivity

• Advanced degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, and/or aerospace engineering

• Ability to work long hours and some weekend as needed, to support critical milestones

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs; standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying maybe require to perform the functions of this positions.

• Ability to travel on short notice to support test campaigns (up to 50%)

• Must be eligible to pass Air Force background checks