---
title: '34 Cost and Value Engineer at Hypersonica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/34-cost-and-value-engineer-hypersonica-munich-jj6c7t7zw5ms'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# 34 Cost and Value Engineer at Hypersonica

- **Company:** Hypersonica
- **Location:** Munich, Germany
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-05-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/hypersonica-prod/77aca304-1679-4fbc-b280-ee76c0ad6b57

## Job description

Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability

At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.

We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

## What you'll do

- Responsible for target costing, driving cost/weight trade-off studies for product & production, and should costing purposes: drive real-time design-to-cost and design-to-value trade-offs within Hypersonica's rapid, iterative development cycles
- Build and maintain product cost models, creating transparency on cost structures and key drivers across materials, manufacturing, assembly, and test
- Act as the critical interface between commercial/finance and engineering, ensuring cost is embedded in every decision from early concept through to flight-ready hardware
- Lead make-vs-buy analyses as the company scales toward manufacturing, and model the cost implications of Hypersonica's modular architecture, including variant management and upgrade paths
- Support the supply chain management team to exchange with key suppliers and be part of the tendering process
- Develop affordability and life-cycle cost models tailored to European defence procurement frameworks, supporting Hypersonica's mission to make hypersonic capability accessible across NATO
- Support the programme team in preparing competitive offers and cost estimations

## Who you are

- Experience: 5+ years in cost and value engineering in a defence or aerospace context
- Outstanding analytical capabilities
- Education: Degree in industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, or design engineering (or equivalent)
- Technical depth: Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and cost drivers for advanced metals (including high-temperature alloys), composites, thermal protection systems, propulsion components, and electronics/semiconductors
- Methods & tools: Experience with should-cost modelling, parametric estimation, or simulation-based cost engineering
- Defence context: Familiarity with European defence procurement and export control regimes (e.g. ITAR/EAR) is a strong plus
- Mindset: Entrepreneurial, hands-on, and comfortable with ambiguity ready to build this function from scratch in a fast-moving startup where you'll operate autonomously and wear multiple hats

## What we offer

- A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.

- Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.

- High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.

- A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.

- A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.

- Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.

Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential.

You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.

## About Hypersonica

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Hypersonica is a European defence and aerospace company developing next-generation hypersonic systems for military and civilian applications, focused on strengthening Europe's sovereign technological edge.
- **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed; investors include Plural and SPRIND)
- **Headquarters**: Munich area, Germany (with a wholly owned subsidiary in London, UK)
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Dr. Philipp Kerth (CEO) and Dr. Marc Ewenz (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Defence, aerospace, hypersonics
- **Target customers**: European governments and allied defence organisations (B2G/B2B)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “To equip Europe with the sovereign, technological edge it needs to deter military aggression and uphold freedom and independence in a more dangerous world.” [hypersonica.com/en/](https://www.hypersonica.com/en/)

## Products & Services
- **Hypersonic Systems (Military & Civilian)** : Next-generation hypersonic flight vehicles designed for deep-strike capabilities and potential future autonomous space-access. The company emphasises rapid iteration, modular architecture, and cost reduction. Product type: Hardware + integrated systems.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric (Funding)** : Backed by Plural (Europe-based VC) and SPRIND (German federal innovation agency). Funding amounts not publicly disclosed.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Plural (Partner Ian Hogarth), SPRIND (Director Rafael Laguna de la Vera)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Flight testing announced for February 2026 at Andøya, Norway
  - “Flight-ready in months” (vs. industry norm of years)
  - 80% cost reduction claim vs. traditional development
  - Aligned with UK‑German Trinity House Agreement on advanced defence technologies
  - Growing government interest in deep-strike capabilities across Europe

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed of development** – rapid iteration from design to flight-ready hardware (months, not years)
- **Cost efficiency** – claims to reduce development costs by 80%
- **Modular architecture** – systems that can evolve in real time to maintain operational superiority
- **European sovereignty** – rooted in Munich and London, with explicit mission to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers

## Strategic Focus
- Accelerate flight testing and fielding of hypersonic systems for European defence customers
- Expand engineering and business teams across Munich and London
- Build on the UK‑German Trinity House Agreement and similar government partnerships
- Maintain technological lead through rapid prototyping and modular design

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Mission-driven “A‑Team” focused on European resilience and cutting-edge physics. Emphasis on speed, autonomy, and impact.
- **Work Policy**: On‑site roles in Munich (HQ) and London. Roles include AIT Engineer, Avionics Manager, Flight Dynamics Engineer, and various engineering and technician positions.
- **Hiring Process**: May use AI tools to assist with resume review and candidate assessment; final decisions made by humans. Transparency on AI usage provided.
- **Perks/Engineering Culture**: Not explicitly detailed, but the company presents a fast-paced, high-stakes environment working on some of the most demanding physics in aerospace.

## Sources
1. [hypersonica.com/en/](https://www.hypersonica.com/en/) – Homepage and mission statement
2. [hypersonica.com/en/company/](https://www.hypersonica.com/en/company/) – Leadership, investors, and company details
3. [hypersonica.com/en/careers/](https://www.hypersonica.com/en/careers/) – Careers page and founding team messaging
4. [jobs.lever.co/hypersonica-prod](https://jobs.lever.co/hypersonica-prod) – Open positions and hiring practices

## Other roles at Hypersonica

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- [Electronics Hardware Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/electronics-hardware-design-engineer-hypersonica-munich-cqbcxxa7meqr) — Munich, Germany
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