Systems Engineer, Customer Facing – Hypersonics, Missile Defense, Space, and Army Programs

Location: Huntsville, AL

Department: Business Development / Strategic Growth

Reports To: Vice President, Defense

Clearance Requirement: Active Secret (Top Secret SCI eligible)

Travel: ~25% domestic travel

Type: FTE

Salary: $150,000/year

Position Summary

Longshot is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to support strategic growth initiatives across the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Army portfolios. This role will be based in Huntsville, Alabama, and will serve as Longshot’s primary technical interface with Redstone Arsenal customers, program offices, and the broader defense ecosystem supporting missile defense, hypersonics, and space-domain operations. The ideal candidate will shape and integrate solution architectures and enabling technologies; provide rigorous technical analysis; deliver advanced application feedback and executive-ready presentations to new and existing customers; and align customer requirements with viable solutions that support Longshot’s role as a technology leader in reusable hypersonic systems, test infrastructure, and advanced defense applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Elicit and translate operational objectives, constraints, and CONOPS into technical requirements and acceptance criteria that directly influences solution design.
• Build and execute technical engagement plans (demos, lab/field POCs, integrations) aligned to program goals across MDA, U.S. Space Force, and Army stakeholders.
• Identify and scope system use cases for hypersonic systems, defense tech demonstrations, and strategic deterrence; define interfaces, data flows, and performance envelopes.
• Serve as the day-to-day technical counterpart for government customers, answer RFIs, and provide clear explanations of system behavior.
• Provide the technical baseline for captures—architectures, ICDs, ROMs/BOEs, compliance matrices, risks/mitigations, and schedule—with engineering and program teams.
• Represent Longshot at industry days, technical conferences, and customer meetings; deliver live demos and technical deep dives; document results and next steps.
• Drive opportunity-aligned technical activities from discovery and analysis through prototype/POC, verification, and post-award technical transition/playbooks.
• Work cross-functionally to convert stakeholder needs into architectures, test plans, and integration work items; maintain traceability from requirements to verification.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry, or technical roles supporting DoW or national security missions. Service time counts.
• Proven success developing or managing technical solutions for MDA, Army (particularly SMDC or PEO Missiles & Space), or U.S. Space Force.
• Deep understanding of DoW Program of Record development and processes.
• Deep understanding of DoW acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, government contracting strategies, and experience providing technical content to RFIs/RFPs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or support proposal and capture efforts for RFPs, BAAs, and OTAs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical capabilities into mission impact.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Active Secret clearance (Top Secret SCI preferred or ability to obtain).

Desired Attributes

• Experience working with hypersonic, missile defense, or space domain awareness programs.
• Established network within the Huntsville defense community and related prime contractors.
• Strong written, verbal, and briefing skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-growing technology company environment.
• Familiarity with SBIR/STTR transitions, prototyping programs, and technology insertion pathways.

Why Longshot?

Longshot is pioneering reusable hypersonic launcher and platform that redefines the cost, cadence, and capability of national defense and space access. We combine advanced engineering with practical operational impact to deliver affordable, repeatable access to the high-Mach regime — supporting missions in hypersonic testing/transport, missile defense, and strategic deterrence. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of national defense capabilities while driving business growth in one of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace hubs.