Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Performance Engineer

Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
  • 4+ years of experience in performance analysis, test engineering, or data analysis roles
  • Strong analytical and data-handling skills
  • Proficiency in Excel for data manipulation and plotting
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to manage confidential and export-controlled information (ITAR)
  • Familiarity with propulsion systems or gas turbines (preferred)

Responsibilities

  • Collect and organize performance data from test events
  • Verify test configurations, channels, and metadata accuracy
  • Analyze test data to assess engine and system performance
  • Develop visual performance reports for internal and external use
  • Support correlation of analytical models to test data
  • Assist in investigating performance anomalies and root cause analysis
  • Maintain performance datasets and configuration control

Benefits

  • Professional development opportunities
  • Collaborative team environment
  • Engagement with cutting-edge propulsion technology
  • Access to advanced data analysis tools
  • Dynamic work environment involving office and test cells
Full Job Description
GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Performance Engineer supports propulsion system performance analysis and validation by collecting, formatting, analyzing, and reporting test performance data across development, acceptance, and qualification programs. Reporting to the Senior Performance Engineer, this role focuses on execution and data integrity, ensuring performance results are accurate, traceable, and ready to inform engineering decisions, corrective actions, and customer deliverables.

The Performance Engineer works closely with Test Engineering, Product Engineering, Design Engineering, and Manufacturing to ensure test data is transformed into clear, reliable performance insight.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Test Data Collection & Formatting
  • Support engine and system testing by collecting and organizing performance data from test events
  • Verify test configurations, channels, units, and metadata are correctly captured
  • Format raw test data into structured datasets suitable for analysis and reporting
  • Ensure data integrity, traceability, and configuration alignment

Performance Data Analysis
  • Analyze test data to assess engine and system performance against expectations
  • Identify trends, deltas, and anomalies in measured performance
  • Support comparison of test results to analytical predictions and historical baselines
  • Assist with regression, trending, and basic statistical analysis as directed

Reporting & Visualization
  • Develop performance plots, charts, and tables for internal and customer use
  • Support creation of engine test summary reports and performance history reports
  • Prepare clear, concise performance content for design reviews, program reviews, and customer briefings
  • Ensure reports are technically accurate, well-organized, and professionally formatted

Test Correlation Support
  • Support correlation of analytical models to test data under direction of the Senior Performance Engineer
  • Assist with documenting correlation results and performance validation findings
  • Support refinement of assumptions and data inputs based on test outcomes

Issue Support & Root Cause Analysis
  • Support investigation of performance anomalies and shortfalls
  • Assist Senior Performance Engineer with analytical root cause efforts
  • Quantify impacts of design changes, process variation, or test conditions on performance results
  • Support verification of corrective actions through follow-on analysis

Engineering & Test Integration
  • Partner with Test Engineering to understand test objectives, instrumentation, and data requirements
  • Support interpretation of test results and data reduction activities
  • Ensure performance findings are fed back into Engineering, Test, and Program teams

Documentation, Configuration & Digital Thread
  • Maintain configuration control of performance datasets, analysis files, and reports
  • Ensure traceability between test data, configurations, and reported results
  • Support integration of performance data into PLM, test databases, and QMS as required
  • Ensure performance documentation is audit-ready and customer-ready

Standards, Methods & Continuous Improvement
  • Follow established performance analysis standards and methods
  • Support continuous improvement of data collection, analysis, and reporting workflows
  • Incorporate lessons learned into analysis practices and templates

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
  • No direct supervisory responsibility
  • Executes work under technical direction of the Senior Performance Engineer


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required
  • Strong analytical and data-handling skills
  • Ability to collect, clean, and analyze complex test datasets
  • Proficiency in Excel (data manipulation, plotting, basic calculations)
  • Ability to interpret engineering data and technical documentation
  • Strong attention to detail and data accuracy
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to manage confidential and export-controlled information (ITAR)

Preferred
  • Experience with propulsion systems, gas turbines, or complex mechanical systems
  • Familiarity with MATLAB, Python, or similar analysis tools
  • Basic understanding of thermodynamics and performance analysis
  • Experience working in AS9100-regulated environments

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
  • 4+ years of experience in performance analysis, test engineering, or data analysis roles

Preferred
  • Experience supporting engine or system-level testing
  • Experience in high-mix, low-volume development and production environments

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Office, test cell, and manufacturing environments
  • Frequent interaction with test hardware and data systems
  • May require extended hours during test campaigns or anomaly resolution
  • Ability to walk test areas and production floors
  • May be required to lift materials, components, or equipment up to 50 lbs

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
  • 0-20% as required to support test activities or customer reviews

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.

A REVIEW OF THIS CLASSIFICATION HAS EXCLUDED THE MARGINAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL JOB JUTIES. ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THIS JOB PROFICIENTLY. THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES.

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About Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. provides mission critical products, solutions, and services in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Kratos Government Solutions, Unmanned Systems, and Public Safety & Security. The Kratos Government Solutions segment offers microwave electronic products, satellite communications, training systems, modular systems, and defense and rocket support services. The Unmanned Systems segment provides unmanned aerial, ground, and seaborne, as well as command, control, and communications systems. The Public Safety & Security segment designs, engineers, deploys, operates, integrates, maintains, and operates security and surveillance solutions for homeland security, public safety, critical infrastructure, government, and commercial customers. The company serves national security related agencies, the department of defense, intelligence agencies, and classified agencies, as well as international government agencies and domestic and international commercial customers; and critical infrastructure, power generation, power transport, nuclear energy, financial, IT, healthcare, education, transportation, and petro-chemical industries, as well as government and military customers. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Learn more about Kratos Defense and Security Solutions
Size
3,300 employees
Market Cap
$1.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$79.6 million
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+8.4%
Revenue
$747.6 million
NASDAQ

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