Electric Propulsion Engineer

JOB TITLE: Electric Propulsion Engineer
LOCATION:Irvine, CA
PAY RATE: $112,000-153,000/year

We are a national aerospace and defense staffing agency seeking highly qualified candidates for a position with a top-tier client.

Job Details:

• Job Type: Contract (Full Time)

• Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

• Industry: Aerospace / Defense / Aviation

• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision (Cigna)

• Perks: Bonus potential + Priority access via Tier 1 supplier

• Openings Nationwide: Thousands of opportunities across the U.S.

Qualifying Questions:

• Are you a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance?

• Do you meet the educational and experience requirements for this role?

• Can you commute to the job location or relocate if necessary?

Summary: 

• Leads selection, sizing, and integration of electric propulsion components including ducted fans, open propellers, motors, motor controllers, and batteries.

• Performs system-level trade studies to balance thrust, efficiency, thermal performance, weight, and mission endurance.

• Conducts tuning, calibration, and performance optimization of motors and motor controllers across varying load conditions and flight profiles.

• Develops propulsion test plans and supports bench testing, ground testing, and flight testing activities.

• Analyzes test data and generates recommendations to improve system reliability, safety margins, and energy efficiency.

• Collaborates with aerodynamics, airframe, avionics, and systems engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of propulsion systems.

• Creates technical documentation including specifications, integration guides, and validation reports.

• Contributes to failure mode analysis, thermal modeling, and risk mitigation related to electric propulsion hardware.

• Maintains awareness of emerging technologies, supplier capabilities, and industry best practices in electric propulsion for small unmanned aircraft.

• Uses propulsion modeling tools and instrumentation for data capture and performance analysis.

Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

• Must be a U.S. Person (as defined by ITAR).

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• 5-7 years of direct experience in electric propulsion within the aerospace or UAV industry.

• Hands-on experience selecting and tuning ducted fans, propellers, motors, ESCs, and batteries for Group 1-2 aircraft.

• Strong familiarity with propulsion performance metrics including thrust, RPM, torque, efficiency, voltage sag, and thermal behavior.

• Experience with propulsion modeling tools and instrumentation for data capture.

• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve propulsion-related integration and performance issues.

• Preferred: Proficiency in MATLAB for data analysis and modeling.

• Preferred: Proficiency with 3D CAD systems, with SolidWorks preferred.

• Preferred: Experience developing test plans and supporting bench, ground, and flight testing activities.

About Us:

The Structures Company is a premier national aerospace and defense staffing agency specializing in contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire placements. We deliver expert workforce solutions across engineering, IT, production, maintenance, and support roles.

As trusted partners to leading aerospace and defense OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, we connect professionals with career opportunities to grow and excel in aviation, aerospace, and defense.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)) to comply with ITAR regulations.

Keywords: aerospace, aviation, engineering, maintenance, aircraft design, defense

Take your career to new heights—apply today!