About Us We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship.

If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it. Culture That Ships Strong Core Values, Startup Execution.

Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset. Self-Starters Only. You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast.

Bureaucracy stays out of your way. One Team, No Tourists. m.

or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

What You'Ll Do

Own the Propulsion Architecture Lead engine selection and sizing trades Define propulsion system architecture including nacelle, mounts, fuel, controls, and thermal integration Tie propulsion performance to mission modeling and aircraft-level

Requirements

Drive Aircraft-Level Integration Lead engine-to-airframe integration across structures, aerodynamics, avionics, and autonomy Define propulsion interfaces and manage integration risks Partner cross-functionally to retire vibration, thermal, and installation risks early Lead OEM & Supplier Engagement Serve as primary technical interface with engine OEMs Evaluate performance guarantees, integration constraints, and certification pedigree Ensure long-lead propulsion risks are proactively managed Enable Certification & Airworthiness Support FAA and/or military airworthiness compliance strategy Contribute to propulsion-related hazard analyses and safety documentation Help shape the path from experimental testing to certified operations Support Test & Validation Define propulsion ground and flight test instrumentation strategies Correlate models with test data Own performance validation against mission

What You’ll Bring Deep Propulsion Expertise 10+ years of experience in aircraft propulsion or propulsion integration Experience integrating turboprop and/or small turbofan engines Strong understanding of engine performance, SFC, installation effects, and mission sizing Aircraft-Level Systems Thinking Experience leading propulsion integration on a clean-sheet or major derivative program Working knowledge of structural loads, vibration, thermal management, and FADEC integration Comfort operating at aircraft architecture level, not just component level Technical Leadership Experience interfacing directly with engine OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers Ability to lead trade studies and defend architecture decisions at design reviews Strong written and verbal technical communication skills Analytical Rigor Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools Experience correlating analytical models with ground or flight test data Bonus Points FAA Part 23 or Part 25 propulsion certification experience Military airworthiness or DoD program experience Experience with MBSE tools (e.g., Cameo) Experience integrating propulsion with autonomy or unmanned systems Flight test support experience Why You’ll Love Working Here (

Compensation

and

factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Benefits

) Base Salary: $165,000 to 245,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of

Principal Propulsion Engineer, UAS Systems