Hypersonica
Programme Associate, Ex-Artillery Officer
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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.
This role is specifically aimed at current or former UK artillery officers, air defence officers, fires officers, targeting officers or similar, especially those from the Royal Artillery, who want to bring operational military judgement into a high-paced defence startup.
You will sit close to business development, programmes, engineering and senior leadership, helping translate operational requirements into executable plans, customer material, programme structure and real capability.
It is a role for someone who understands fires, targeting, operational effect and the UK defence environment — and wants to apply that knowledge to building new capability fast.
If you have Royal Artillery, air defence or fires experience and want a comfortable transition role, this is not it.
If you want to bring operational judgement into a small, elite team building sovereign hypersonic capability for Europe and NATO, and help move critical defence technology faster than the traditional system allows, let's chat.
What you'll do
- Support the delivery of UK defence programmes and major workstreams, helping maintain pace across schedules, priorities and execution.
- Bring Royal Artillery, air defence, fires, targeting or operational user judgement into customer discussions, programme planning and internal decision-making.
- Help translate UK military requirements, battlefield context and operational need into clear plans, milestones, presentations and actions.
- Work closely with business development, engineering, programme, operations and leadership teams to keep workstreams moving.
- Support customer meetings, programme reviews, workshops, trials, demonstrations and military engagements.
- Track progress, risks, actions and dependencies, identifying problems early and helping drive resolution.
- Prepare concise programme material: briefs, meeting packs, action trackers, customer summaries, decision papers and internal updates.
- Support proposal, capture and programme activity where operational context is critical.
- Help the team understand operational use cases, employment concepts, deployment considerations, user priorities and battlefield relevance.
- Travel regularly for customer meetings, trials, workshops and programme activity.
- Take ownership of defined workstreams and grow into broader programme responsibility over time.
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Who you are
- You are an active or former artillery officer, air defence artillery officer or similar that wants to bring their knowledge into a high-paced startup.
- You are likely a Captain or Major, or equivalent, with strong operational judgement and credibility.
- You have UK military experience, ideally within the Royal Artillery, air defence, fires, targeting, ISTAR, long-range fires, ground-based air defence or adjacent operational roles.
- You understand how military users think, how requirements form, and how operational need translates into capability.
- You are capable of project or programme management, even if that experience was gained in a military rather than commercial environment.
- You can structure ambiguity, write clearly, track actions and turn messy inputs into executable plans.
- You are comfortable working with engineers, commercial teams, senior stakeholders and military users.
- You have high ownership, strong judgement and low ego.
- You are willing to travel and be close to the customer, the team and the mission.
- You are not looking for a slow organisation, rigid hierarchy or process-heavy environment.
- You are motivated by sovereign European defence capability and the need to move faster than traditional defence.
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What we offer
- A mission-driven environment working on one of Europe’s most ambitious defence technology programmes.
- The chance to work alongside leading experts in aerospace, propulsion, guidance, control, manufacturing and defence technology.
- Exposure to the full lifecycle of complex defence programmes, from operational requirement and customer engagement through to engineering delivery and flight testing.
- High ownership from day one, with real responsibility and direct impact on company outcomes.
- A fast-paced, technically rigorous environment where decisions are made quickly and execution matters.
- A culture built around clarity, integrity, high standards and practical problem solving.
- Competitive compensation, including share options.
- The opportunity to help build sovereign European hypersonic capability at a pivotal stage of company growth.
Security and Eligibility Requirement
Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be a British Citizen or Dual national with British citizenship, and eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC) and, where required, Developed Vetting (DV).
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.
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