Computational Design Engineer Co-Op - Fall 2026

Computational Design Engineer Co-Op

Job Summary

Specter Aerospace is seeking a Computational Design Engineer Co-Op (4-6+ month cycle) to support the design and analysis of high-speed airbreathing testbed vehicles. A successful candidate for this position will be driven and passionate about computational design.

About Specter Aerospace

Specter Aerospace is building the next generation of hypersonic vehicles for defense and commercial applications. Specter is headquartered in Peabody, MA, just north of Boston, where it leverages its advanced propulsion technologies, manufacturing, and testing capabilities to rapidly develop supersonic and hypersonic systems. Funded by a mix of government R&D organizations, commercial customers, and private funding, Specter is a growing aerospace and defense startup. Close relationships with MIT, Notre Dame, AFRL, NRL, ANL, and other research organizations provide access to cutting-edge developments, facilities, and personnel. Specter is expanding its team in preparation for flight testing and full-scale production.

Role & Responsibilities

· Work in a fast-paced environment making reusable computational geometry models to take hypersonic vehicles from requirements to design

· Work with mechanical, design, aerodynamics, propulsion, and software engineers to define I/O and create parametric geometry models that connect to analysis tools

· Other duties as assigned by the company

Job Requirements

· Pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, Math, Computer Science, Physics, or other related discipline

· Prior experience using any computational design software (Rhino/Grasshopper, nTop, PicoGK, NX Implicit Modeling, Altair Implicit Modeling etc.)

· Familiary with implicit modeling concepts (signed distance functions, level sets, Boolean operations, inversions, differential geometry)

· Previous CAD/design experience in a technical shop, lab, or a student organization

· Comfort with project autonomy and fast-paced work environments

· Strong collaborative skills and a drive to produce quality work

· Strong communication skills to clarify scope and requirements when working with other engineers.

· Familiary with mechanical engineering and physics principles (statics, materials, thermo/fluids, etc…)

· Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)

Desired Skills

· Prior professional or student group work experiences

· Experience with at least one programming language

· Prior experience with additive manufacturing

· Amateur rocketry or model aircraft experience

· Prior FEA/CFD experience

· Prior topology optimization experience

· Prior DFAM/DFM experience

· Experience with large and complex models in a computational design software