Principal Propulsion Engineer, UAS Systems

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. Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.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 requirements

 

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 Benefits)

Base Salary: $165,000 to 245,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation 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. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos's total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
• Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
• 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
• Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
• In-Office Daily Lunch catered 
• Company-funded child care stipend 
• Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
• Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
• 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone who is interested in disrupting the way the Department of Defense buys and operates unmanned weapon systems, please apply!