Defense and Space Manufacturing

Hop Aero

1-10

Co-Founder & CEO

United States

Hop Aero is a venture-backed startup building the physical internet. Our mission is to enable resilient global logistics to protect and improve our way of life.

Our founding team has prior experience founding a satellite startup and taking it to orbit, launching 20+ F9's at SpaceX and has led engineering teams at the world's most advanced aerospace organizations.

**About the role**

The Lead Systems Engineer will play a foundational role in the development of our early vehicles and shaping Hop Aero’s long-term roadmap. This is a broad and high-responsibility role, combining technical leadership, systems architecture, program execution, and customer interaction— particularly with government stakeholders.

This role is for an experienced, all-rounder engineer with a strong background in system architecture and specific disciplines (systems engineering, GNC, flight dynamics, hypersonics/re-entry), and demonstrable experience across the full lifecycle (cradle to grave) of aerospace hardware.

There's flexibility in this role – as the company evolves, so too will our needs. Our aim is to ensure that the role and person can evolve to meet these changing requirements.

## Tasks

**Vehicle Architecture**

*   Ownership of the system architecture and design of our current vehicle under development.
*   Develop future vehicle concepts aligned with mission requirements, unit economics, and business goals.

**Systems Engineering**

*   Lead vehicle-level systems engineering efforts across all subsystems on our current vehicle
*   Define and manage system budgets (mass, power, thermal, cost, BOM, etc.)
*   Ensure interfaces and integration points across subsystems are clearly defined and managed

**Program Execution**

*   Define technical roadmaps and development plans for each major system
*   Plan tasks and delegate to relevant team leads.
*   Interface directly with team leads, suppliers (and other relevant externals) to ensure delivery timelines

**Government Programs & Customer Interaction**

*   Support preparation of proposals for SBIR, STTR, and other DoD opportunities
*   Report technical progress and participate in reviews with government stakeholders
*   Help align engineering deliverables with customer expectations

**Cross-Functional Work**

*   Work closely with CTO on program execution, and with CEO on technical roadmap and milestones
*   Participate in early customer discovery and feedback integration into technical planning

## Requirements

*   10+ years in aerospace vehicle development
*   Demonstrated experience as a lead engineer or similar for complex flight hardware. Cradle-to-grave experience with a vehicle/program is a huge plus.
*   Experience working on government-funded programs (preferably with AFRL or similar)
*   Willingness to get their hands dirty and join us in the desert when needed.

**Systems Engineering & Program Execution**

*   Expertise in systems architecture and systems engineering. Experience with MBSE tools is a huge plus.
*   Creation and management of BOM and mass, cost, power budgets.
*   Task planning, team coordination, and supplier management

**Tools & Skills**

*   Strong knowledge of hypersonic/re-entry vehicles and systems. Hands-on experience with such vehicles a huge plus.
*   Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks preferred but not required)
*   Basic experience with structural and thermal FEA
*   Familiarity with simulation tools (fluids, dynamics, impact) is a plus
*   Strong foundation in guidance, navigation, and control
*   Experience modeling 6-DOF flight dynamics. Ability to model aero loads.
*   Familiarity with guidance laws and control system implementation (Simulink, MATLAB, C++/Python)

**Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident)**

## Benefits

*   Stock options package on top of base salary
*   Relocation package/bonus negotiable if needed
*   Flexible work schedule

We’re at an inflection point. The world is more unstable than at any time since the Cold War, and growing threats are challenging the foundations of our way of life. 

Global logistics has been an engine of growth and stability of the free world for over a century, keeping nations connected, resilient, and ready. As this system comes under strain, our mission is to secure and strengthen global logistics for the century ahead.

**Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we'd still love to hear from you. Greatness looks different in every one of us - and we need the best tackling this problem.**

Employee

Professional / Experienced

Hop Aero is a venture-backed startup building the physical internet. Our mission is to enable resilient global logistics to protect and improve our way of life.
Our founding team has prior experience founding a satellite startup and taking it to orbit, launching 20+ F9&#39;s at SpaceX and has led engineering teams at the world&#39;s most advanced aerospace organizations.
About the role
The Lead Systems Engineer will play a foundational role in the development of our early vehicles and shaping Hop Aero’s long-term roadmap. This is a broad and high-responsibility role, combining technical leadership, systems architecture, program execution, and customer interaction— particularly with government stakeholders.
This role is for an experienced, all-rounder engineer with a strong background in system architecture and specific disciplines (systems engineering, GNC, flight dynamics, hypersonics/re-entry), and demonstrable experience across the full lifecycle (cradle to grave) of aerospace hardware.
There&#39;s flexibility in this role – as the company evolves, so too will our needs. Our aim is to ensure that the role and person can evolve to meet these changing requirements.
<h2 id="tasks">Tasks</h2>
Vehicle Architecture
<ul>
<li>Ownership of the system architecture and design of our current vehicle under development.</li>
<li>Develop future vehicle concepts aligned with mission requirements, unit economics, and business goals.</li>
</ul>
Systems Engineering
<ul>
<li>Lead vehicle-level systems engineering efforts across all subsystems on our current vehicle</li>
<li>Define and manage system budgets (mass, power, thermal, cost, BOM, etc.)</li>
<li>Ensure interfaces and integration points across subsystems are clearly defined and managed</li>
</ul>
Program Execution
<ul>
<li>Define technical roadmaps and development plans for each major system</li>
<li>Plan tasks and delegate to relevant team leads.</li>
<li>Interface directly with team leads, suppliers (and other relevant externals) to ensure delivery timelines</li>
</ul>
Government Programs &amp; Customer Interaction
<ul>
<li>Support preparation of proposals for SBIR, STTR, and other DoD opportunities</li>
<li>Report technical progress and participate in reviews with government stakeholders</li>
<li>Help align engineering deliverables with customer expectations</li>
</ul>
Cross-Functional Work
<ul>
<li>Work closely with CTO on program execution, and with CEO on technical roadmap and milestones</li>
<li>Participate in early customer discovery and feedback integration into technical planning</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="requirements">Requirements</h2>
<ul>
<li>10+ years in aerospace vehicle development</li>
<li>Demonstrated experience as a lead engineer or similar for complex flight hardware. Cradle-to-grave experience with a vehicle/program is a huge plus.</li>
<li>Experience working on government-funded programs (preferably with AFRL or similar)</li>
<li>Willingness to get their hands dirty and join us in the desert when needed.</li>
</ul>
Systems Engineering &amp; Program Execution
<ul>
<li>Expertise in systems architecture and systems engineering. Experience with MBSE tools is a huge plus.</li>
<li>Creation and management of BOM and mass, cost, power budgets.</li>
<li>Task planning, team coordination, and supplier management</li>
</ul>
Tools &amp; Skills
<ul>
<li>Strong knowledge of hypersonic/re-entry vehicles and systems. Hands-on experience with such vehicles a huge plus.</li>
<li>Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks preferred but not required)</li>
<li>Basic experience with structural and thermal FEA</li>
<li>Familiarity with simulation tools (fluids, dynamics, impact) is a plus</li>
<li>Strong foundation in guidance, navigation, and control</li>
<li>Experience modeling 6-DOF flight dynamics. Ability to model aero loads.</li>
<li>Familiarity with guidance laws and control system implementation (Simulink, MATLAB, C++/Python)</li>
</ul>
Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident)
<h2 id="benefits">Benefits</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stock options package on top of base salary</li>
<li>Relocation package/bonus negotiable if needed</li>
<li>Flexible work schedule</li>
</ul>
We’re at an inflection point. The world is more unstable than at any time since the Cold War, and growing threats are challenging the foundations of our way of life. 
Global logistics has been an engine of growth and stability of the free world for over a century, keeping nations connected, resilient, and ready. As this system comes under strain, our mission is to secure and strengthen global logistics for the century ahead.
Even if you don&#39;t meet every single requirement, we&#39;d still love to hear from you. Greatness looks different in every one of us - and we need the best tackling this problem.

Lead Systems Engineer

Hop Aero logo

Google {privacyLink} and {termsLink} apply.

Benefits

Media

We don't have any open positions at the moment

No available jobs

Offices

Open positions

Values

Videos

Do you have a question?

Spontaneous Application

We’ll send a link to this job to your email.

No time? Just apply later

We are reviewing your account. Once our managers approve it, candidates will be able to apply for this job.

Changes are not visible until you publish your job.

This is a preview of your job ad.

Interested?

The job {jobTitle} was archived or the deadline has passed.

This job is no longer available

Recruiting Team

Our other open positions

We no longer accept spontaneous applications

Are you a talented professional seeking your next career adventure? At {companyName}, we appreciate proactive individuals who can bring a fresh perspective to our team.

While we may not have an immediate job opening that precisely matches your needs, your distinctive experiences and talents might be an excellent fit for us in the future.

To submit your spontaneous application, please use the application form on the right to upload your CV and cover letter. Ensure that you mention your desired position in the cover letter.

Rest assured, our dedicated recruiting team will reach out to you once they identify a role that aligns perfectly with your skills and aspirations.

How to apply

Looking for a job at {companyName}? JOIN works directly with {companyName} to bring you all their open positions. Apply now with JOIN.com.

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse all open positions and become part of our team! Open positions: {jobsCount}

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse our open jobs and join us! We currently have {jobsCount} available jobs. Step up your career and apply today!

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse all our open positions and become part of our team! We have currently {jobsCount} jobs available. Apply today to join us!

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse all open positions and become part of our team! We are currently looking for {jobsCount} additions to our company. Apply today!

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse all open positions and become part of our growing team! We are currently looking for {jobsCount} additions to our company. Apply today!

Jobs at {companyName}. Browse all our open positions and become part of our growing team! We are currently looking for {jobsCount} additions to our company. Apply today!

Browse all our open positions and become part of our team! We are looking for {jobsCount} additions to our company. Take the next step in your career and apply today!

No suitable positions available at {companyName}? Don't wait! Submit a spontaneous job application today and unlock your career possibilities tomorrow.