Full-Time

Aerospace Engineer 3/4

Posted on 8/18/2026

Specter Aerospace

Specter Aerospace

51-200 employees

Develops plasma-assisted propulsion for aerospace defense

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Boston, MA, USA

In Person

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Bash
Python
MATLAB

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or another related discipline is required.
  • At least 3 years of relevant full-time experience is required.
  • Experience conducting high-speed numerical simulations of aerospace vehicles is required.
  • Experience using computational fluid dynamics tools such as Fun3D, US3D, Cart3D, CFD++, OVERFLOW, or Vulcan is required.
  • Experience using grid preparation software such as Pointwise or GridPro is required.
  • Experience using Python, Bash, or MATLAB scripting languages to support analysis is required.
  • Experience conducting wind tunnel tests at academic, government, and private wind tunnels is required.
  • Experience with low-fidelity methods for aerodynamic estimation is required.
  • The ability to obtain a Department of Defense security clearance is required, and U.S. citizenship is required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the development and execution of numerical analyses of high-speed flight systems.
  • Provide guidance and feedback to junior engineers.
  • Communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop aerodynamic models of high-speed airbreathing vehicles using multifidelity data.
  • Lead wind tunnel test preparation and execution.
  • Coordinate with the design team to provide feedback on system design.
  • Support trajectory optimization and analysis efforts using three-degree-of-freedom and six-degree-of-freedom methods.
  • Perform other duties assigned by the company.
Desired Qualifications
  • A master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Seven or more years of relevant full-time experience.
  • Expertise in computational analyses for high-speed airbreathing systems.
  • Experience with finite-rate reacting-flow simulations for combustion studies.
  • Experience with automatic grid generation and process development for conceptual trade studies.
  • An 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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Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

3%

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,...