Entry Level Propulsion Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

*** Please note, positions are contingent upon award ***

Amentum is a leading provider of engineering, scientific, and program management support services to some of the top agencies in the U.S. government, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the intelligence community.

The mission of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is to reimagine every aspect of military hardware design, development, test, manufacture, and sustainment – with a focus on rapid, affordable, and scalable deployment – to create and prevent technological surprise. TTO’s goal is to demonstrate compelling hardware at the smallest scale that traces to disruptive capability, with designs that reduce risk and cost by managing complexity and that can be manufactured responsively and affordably. Additional information on TTO is available here: https://www.darpa.mil/about/offices/tto.

*** Please note, positions are contingent upon award ***

Amentum is seeking entry-level engineers to support the development and execution of technology demonstration programs in TTO. This position will provide support to Government Program Managers (PMs) as part of an interdisciplinary team. This is a full-time position with the requirement to work on-site at the client location (Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA). Some domestic travel (~20%) may be required.

• Providing Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) to DARPA in the execution of advanced technology, research, and prototype demonstration programs
• Providing technical support to DARPA PMs, performers, integrated product teams (IPTs), and associated research and development communities across industry, academia, and government
• Identifying and translating requirements into technology research and development objectives
• Providing overarching support to program/s to include, as needed, attending biweekly calls for performers, attending major reviews, drafting programmatic documentation for DARPA and transition partners, attending transition partner meetings and internal DARPA team meetings
• Supporting technical interchange meetings and design reviews
• Supporting program experimentation and testing efforts, including preparation of experiment/test plans and coordination with performers, government agents, and test facilities
• Contributing to program briefings and technical documentation and reports

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering, scientific, or technical discipline
• 1 year of relevant experience
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance. Please note US citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• A basic understanding of technologies related to systems/equipment support and test & evaluation for Department of War (DoW) programs
• Demonstrated experience in a TTO relevant area, including systems engineering, aerospace and propulsion engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physical and chemical science, material science, hypersonics and aerothermodynamics, advanced strategic systems, aircraft design, naval architecture and marine engineering, autonomy, unmanned systems, robotics, sensors and remote sensing, computational fluid dynamics, human-machine learning, AI/ML, and other relevant scientific areas (see TTO website linked above)
• The demonstrated professionalism, maturity, sound judgement, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary for daily interactions with executive-level audiences in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently or in a team setting as circumstances dictate
• Strong writing skills; highly organized with excellent attention to detail

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering, scientific, or technical discipline
• Active Secret security clearance, with ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance. Please note US citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Familiarity with technology assessment for military or commercial system applications
• DARPA or other ARPA agency (ARPA-H, IARPA, ARPA-E, etc.) experience

$100K-$135K depending on qualifications and experience

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

09/03/2026 - 09/06/2026

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.