---
title: 'Thermal Engineer at Hermeus'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/thermal-engineer-hermeus-los-angeles-6hhxtj1kgwzn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Thermal Engineer at Hermeus

- **Company:** Hermeus
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $92k–$140k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/hermeus/50279b49-21fc-499f-b5de-4fd0c827d6df

## Job description

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 Thermal Engineer at Hermeus, you will be responsible for analyzing, designing, and implementing thermal solutions for various components and systems in our high mach vehicles.

Responsibilities:

- Thermal Analysis: Conduct detailed thermal analyses and simulations using state-of-the-art tools and software to model heat transfer, thermal loads, and thermal behavior during all phases of mach3+ flight.
- Thermal System Design: Design and develop efficient thermal management systems, including heat shields, thermal protection materials, insulation, and active cooling systems to ensure the integrity and reliability of critical vehicle components.
- Material Selection: Evaluate and select appropriate materials with high-temperature capabilities and thermal resistance for thermal protection and heat dissipation in hypersonic environments.
- Hot metallic structure analysis: Analize and test novel ways to reduce thermal induces stress and deflections.
- Integration: Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and materials, to seamlessly integrate thermal solutions into the overall vehicle design.
- Testing and Validation: Plan, conduct, and analyze thermal tests in laboratory environments and during flight tests to validate thermal models and verify the performance of thermal systems under real-world conditions.
- Innovation: Stay up to date with the latest advancements in thermal engineering, aerospace materials, and heat transfer technologies. Continuously seek innovative approaches to enhance thermal efficiency and performance.
- Documentation: Prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations to communicate thermal analysis results, design decisions, and recommendations to stakeholders and project teams.
- Work hand in hand with responsible engineers to develop simple and robust thermal solutions for a high temperature environment

Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or thermal engineering (or a related field). A master's is advantageous.
- Proficiency in thermal analysis software and computational tools (e.g., ANSYS, CFD) thermal desktop, for thermal simulations and modeling.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Proven experience in thermal engineering, heat transfer analysis, or thermal management systems in aerospace, high-speed vehicles, or related fields.
- Solid understanding of aerospace materials, high-temperature alloys, and material behavior under extreme thermal conditions.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to work on complex thermal challenges and propose effective solutions.
- Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and present technical information clearly and concisely.
- Adaptability and a willingness to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic research and development environment.
- Experience participating in a collegiate engineering competition team such as Formula SAE (FSAE), Design/Build/Fly (DBF), Baja SAE, Rocketry, or a comparable hands-on engineering organization is highly preferred.

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs. At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team. Benefits: Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

## U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

## About Hermeus

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Hermeus is an aerospace and defense company building the world’s fastest aircraft through rapid iterative prototyping, targeting high-Mach and hypersonic flight for national security and commercial applications.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, ~$350M raised in latest round)
- **Headquarters**: Hawthorne, California, USA (primary HQ at 3401 Jack Northrop Ave; additional offices in Los Angeles/El Segundo, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Washington, D.C.)
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: AJ Piplica, Glenn Case, Skyler Shuford, Michael Smayda

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing; Defense Technology
- **Target customers**: B2G (primarily U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations), with future potential in commercial high-speed travel
- **Mission**: Build the world’s fastest aircraft by reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping, delivering high-speed systems that provide an asymmetric advantage for the nation and its allies.

## Products & Services
- **Quarterhorse Program**: A series of four purpose-built unmanned aircraft, each designed to unlock a specific technical challenge and incrementally de-risk hypersonic technology. The first aircraft flew in 2025, and the company reached supersonic flight just 364 days later—the fastest time from founding to supersonic flight in aviation history.
- **High-Speed Propulsion Systems**: Development of air-breathing engines, including testing at the High Enthalpy Airbreathing Test (HEAT) facility in Jacksonville, FL, using Pratt & Whitney F100 engines as a baseline.
- **Hypersonic Aircraft Platforms**: Future planned vehicles aimed at affordable, reusable hypersonic flight for defense and eventually commercial passengers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports; PitchBook lists latest Series C at $350M, total funding ~$566M)
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding ~$566M (9 rounds); Annual Revenue estimated at $5.6M (LinkedIn data, likely early-stage).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Sam Altman (led Series B), Khosla Ventures (led Seed), United States Air Force ($60M grant), NASA (Non-Equity Assistance), and other defense-focused investors.
- **Growth Signals**: 286 employees (+42% YoY); 122,889 LinkedIn followers (+58.2% yearly); rapid expansion from concept to supersonic flight in under 7 years; multiple open positions across engineering, manufacturing, and operations.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed of Iteration**: Hermeus is the fastest company in aviation history to go from founding to supersonic flight (364 days after first flight), using a hardware-rich, test-early approach reminiscent of the Skunk Works era.
- **First-Principles Engineering**: Small, cross-disciplinary teams that own problems end-to-end, enabling rapid decision-making and prototyping.
- **Government & Strategic Relationships**: Deep ties with DoD, USAF, and NASA, providing both funding and clear mission requirements.
- **Facilities & Infrastructure**: Four locations covering design, manufacturing, propulsion testing, and policy engagement, including a 110,000 sq ft facility in Atlanta and a dedicated test site in Jacksonville.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scaling the Quarterhorse program to achieve hypersonic flight; maturing engine and airframe integration; expanding manufacturing capacity; hiring top engineering and operations talent; deepening partnerships with defense customers.
- **Direction for growth**: Move from unmanned demonstrators to operational hypersonic aircraft for defense, and eventually develop a commercial high-speed air transport capability.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as "rapid, relentless iteration" with a "total disregard for what others say can't be done." Emphasizes extreme ownership, stubborn focus, and a small-team, high-impact environment.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: On-site roles required at Hawthorne (LA), Atlanta, Jacksonville, or D.C. (multiple open positions are on-site).
- **Notable Perks**:
  - 100% premium coverage for health, dental, and vision for employees and dependents
  - 3 months paid parental leave (100% pay) plus optional additional unpaid month
  - Stock options for all full-time offers with equity refresher program
  - 401k & retirement plans
  - Unlimited PTO for exempt employees (generous accrued PTO for non-exempt) plus 12 federal holidays
  - Free weekly lunches, dog-friendly offices, commuter benefits
- **Engineering Culture**: Hands-on, cross-functional teams; opportunities to work on flight hardware, propulsion, avionics, software, and test operations; fast promotion cycles for high performers.

## Sources
1. [Hermeus Careers](https://www.hermeus.com/careers)
2. [Hermeus Company Page](https://www.hermeus.com/company)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/hermeus)
4. [PitchBook Profile](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/267414-22)
5. [Lever Job Board](https://jobs.lever.co/hermeus)

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