Full-Time

Performance Analyst 1/2

Updated on 9/3/2026

Specter Aerospace

Specter Aerospace

51-200 employees

Develops plasma-assisted propulsion for aerospace defense

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Peabody, MA, USA

In Person

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Bash
Python
MATLAB
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or another related discipline.
  • 0-3 years of relevant full-time experience.
  • Experience or interest in conducting performance analyses of weapon systems.
  • Experience with or willingness to learn trajectory optimization software, including OTIS, QuickShot, and Dymos.
  • Experience using Python, Bash, or MATLAB scripting languages to support analysis.
  • Ability to obtain a Department of Defense security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
Responsibilities
  • Conduct performance assessments and trade studies in support of high-speed airbreathing weapon system design.
  • Use 3DOF trajectory optimization software, including OTIS, QuickShot, and Dymos, for performance analysis.
  • Execute 6DOF simulations and perform statistical analysis of the results.
  • Generate propulsion models using in-house-developed codes.
  • Coordinate with the design team to provide feedback on system design.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the company.
Desired Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Experience conducting performance analysis for high-speed weapon systems.
  • Experience integrating aerodynamic and propulsion models to inform system performance.
  • Experience conducting performance trade studies to inform system design.
  • Willingness to learn or perform supporting survivability analyses in AFSIM and ESAMS.
  • Willingness to learn or perform supporting analyses in computational fluid dynamics, guidance, navigation, and control, and propulsion.
  • Active Department of Defense security clearance.

Specter Aerospace develops propulsion technologies for aerospace and defense, focusing on plasma-assisted combustion and hypersonic propulsion. The company designs advanced propulsion systems to improve jet engine efficiency and performance for high-speed flight. Its approach uses plasma to assist combustion, enabling more stable and efficient engine operation at high speeds, which is especially valuable for hypersonic vehicles. Unlike many competitors, Specter Aerospace emphasizes partnerships and contracting with government agencies (notably the DoD) and collaborates with other aerospace players, supported by both government funding and venture capital. The company aims to advance practical, propulsion-powered capabilities for defense and aerospace needs, driving more efficient engines and enabling reliable hypersonic performance.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Early VC

Total Funding

$14.4M

Headquarters

Cleveland, Ohio

Founded

2013

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Specter plans a plasma-assisted supersonic missile test in 2026.
  • Management is hiring principal GNC talent and co-ops across 2026 programs.
  • Updated August 2026 site activity signals active development, not dormant IP licensing.

What critics are saying

  • Flight-test failure in 2026 would cripple customer confidence and future DoD awards.
  • Specter depends on scarce government funding; budget shifts freeze contracts within months.
  • Clearance-gated hiring slows execution; competitor primes can poach engineers and absorb programs.

What makes Specter Aerospace unique

  • Plasma-assisted combustion technology targets unstable high-speed combustion problems directly.
  • Specter Aerospace combines hypersonic propulsion R&D with Pentagon-backed programs.
  • Its Boston engineering base and clearance-ready hiring attract scarce defense talent.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

-5%
PR Newswire
Jun 13th, 2023
Specter Aerospace Receives $9.5 Million in Funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) and Investment Firms, CS Ventures and Mandala Ventures

/PRNewswire/ -- Specter Aerospace, a Boston area defense contractor, specializing in the field of plasma-assisted combustion and hypersonic propulsion,...