34 Cost and Value Engineer

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.