Chief Engineer - Propulsion and Energy

Rebel Recruiters; Dubai; On-site; AED 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Rebel Recruiters in Dubai seeks a Chief Engineer - Propulsion and Energy to define how propulsion, battery systems, HV distribution and thermal management work together to meet the aircraft’s mission.

You will lead the propulsion architecture, drive battery design and certification strategy, owning the full systems engineering lifecycle in a safety-critical, fast-moving programme in Dubai.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading electric propulsion design on safety-critical programmes.
• 15+ years in systems engineering and aerospace.
• Expertise in battery design, HV distribution, thermal management and battery safety evidence.
• Experience with eVTOL or electric aircraft is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Set the propulsion architecture, including motor sizing and configuration.
• Lead battery system design across chemistry, pack architecture, BMS and thermal control.
• Define HV distribution and propulsion thermal management for Dubai climate.
• Shape certification and qualification strategy for rechargeable batteries.
• Collaborate with suppliers to assess fit, integration and certification readiness.
• Partner with engineering leaders to balance propulsion choices with mission needs.
• In 90 days, establish initial concepts and complete a battery trade study; plan certification.

Skills

Electric propulsion

Battery design

High-voltage systems

Thermal management

System engineering

Job description

Role: Chief Engineer - Propulsion and Energy

Location: Dubai

Working arrangement: Full-time, office-based

Salary: Competitive tax-free salary, relocation support and comprehensive healthcare cover

Help shape an electric aircraft from its earliest design decisions through certification and production. You’ll join a founding engineering team in Dubai and have the authority to define how propulsion, battery systems, high-voltage distribution and thermal management work together to meet the aircraft’s mission.

This is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving whole-system problems. Your decisions will influence aircraft performance, supplier selection, certification evidence and the programme’s technical direction. A central challenge will be battery energy density: you’ll lead the trade studies and mitigation strategy that turn this risk into a workable design plan.

What you’ll do

• Set the electric propulsion architecture, including motor selection, sizing and configuration.
• Lead battery system design across cell chemistry, pack and module architecture, battery management, and thermal runaway containment.
• Define the high-voltage distribution and propulsion thermal management approaches, including operation in Dubai’s hot climate.
• Shape the certification and qualification strategy for rechargeable lithium batteries.
• Work directly with motor, battery cell and power electronics suppliers to assess technical fit, integration and certification readiness.
• Partner with other engineering leaders to balance propulsion choices against flight controls, vehicle performance and mission requirements.

In your first 90 days, you’ll establish the initial propulsion and high-voltage concepts, complete a battery trade study across mission profiles, outline the battery certification plan and begin assessing potential cell suppliers. Over the first year, you’ll help bring the propulsion architecture to preliminary design review, confirm the motor certification path and start the cell qualification programme.

What you’ll bring

You’ve led the design of a complete electric propulsion system on a safety-critical programme and can make sound decisions across connected disciplines. We’re looking for around 15 years or more of relevant systems engineering experience, including strong expertise in battery design, high-voltage distribution, thermal management and battery safety evidence.

Experience with eVTOL or electric aircraft, aerospace motor selection, or managing battery energy-density risk through architecture and supplier engagement would be especially valuable.

If you want to take ownership of a technically demanding propulsion system and help build a new aviation capability in Dubai, we’d like to hear from you.