Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

About the role

The Senior Propulsion Development Engineer at Astro Mechanica owns the end-to-end validation and optimization of our core propulsion hardware in support of our supersonic transportation mission. You will serve as the primary technical authority responsible for defining, executing, and delivering complex test campaigns that de-risk our turboelectric adaptive jet engine. This role demands a high level of ownership where your analysis directly dictates design changes and performance improvements. You will operate at the intersection of hardware, software, and flight dynamics to ensure our Duality™ propulsion system meets stringent reliability and efficiency targets. The position requires a hands-on approach to diagnosing intricate system interactions during rigorous testing programs. You will translate raw test data into actionable engineering insights that accelerate our development timeline. Ultimately, your work will ensure that every propulsion component is validated to a standard that guarantees safety and performance before flight.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect comprehensive test plans, objectives, methodologies, and establish definitive operational boundaries for propulsion hardware validation.
• Determine optimal instrumentation placement while accounting for measurement constraints, sensor limitations, and data integrity requirements.
• Analyze complex test information to characterize hardware behavior, performance metrics, and thermodynamic cycles under varying conditions.
• Efficiently diagnose hardware and software issues, implementing timely corrective measures that prevent schedule delays and ensure test continuity.
• Lead structured data review sessions, clearly communicating results to cross-functional teams and emphasizing unusual patterns or anomalies.
• Maintain and evolve data processing scripts, creating robust automation to boost test throughput, repeatability, and system reliability.
• Analyze evaluation information and integrate discoveries into system-level performance models and future hardware development cycles for iterative improvement.
• Utilize propulsion cycle models, such as GasTurb and NPSS, to forecast engine performance based on analytical maps, operating lines, and real-world conditions.
• Continuously refine test facility capabilities, procedures, and tooling to enhance throughput, repeatability, and reliability for future initiatives.
• Define and enforce strict test-like-you-fly criteria to ensure validation rigor matches real-world operational demands.
• Collaborate with airframe and controls engineers to align propulsion performance with vehicle integration requirements.
• Document all test procedures, results, and decisions to maintain a clear audit trail for regulatory and technical reviews.
• Mentor junior engineers on best practices for data acquisition, safety protocols, and systematic troubleshooting.
• Drive initiatives for continuous improvement in testing methodology, efficiency, and reliability beyond standard assignment expectations.

Requirements

• Bring a minimum of five years of hands-on experience with fluidic systems, propulsion hardware, test operations, and data assessment in a relevant engineering capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to work safely in hazardous environments involving flammables, high voltage sources, and pressurized systems without incident.
• Profound knowledge of fluid systems and instrumentation hardware, including pressure transducers, temperature sensors, load cells, relays, solenoids, regulators, and pneumatic devices.
• Understanding of rotating machinery dynamics, including natural frequencies, vibration phenomena, resonance modes, and high-speed data acquisition methods.
• Experience interfacing with advanced data acquisition systems, PLC hardware, communication protocols, and software interfaces used in engineering test stands.
• Skill in anchoring analysis strictly to experimental outcomes and refining test methods for improved alignment with physical reality.
• Expertise in scripting languages such as Python and MATLAB to automate evaluation workflows, process large datasets, and generate insightful reports.
• Initiative for continuous improvement, taking ownership of processes and driving efficiency and reliability enhancements beyond assigned tasks.
• Adaptability to function effectively within a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly evolving engineering environment.
• Meticulous attention to detail in all deliverables, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with established standards.

Nice to have

• Demonstrated proficiency with GasTurb and NPSS for propulsion cycle modeling, performance mapping, and sensitivity analysis.

Practical notes

The role requires a full-time commitment with a standard weekly schedule. Consistent on-site presence is mandatory, with the expectation to work in the office five days a week to foster collaboration and innovation. This position is eligible for a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA options, a 401(k) retirement plan, and stock options. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of standard hiring processes and authorization documentation. As an equal opportunity employer, Astro Mechanica ensures that all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.