Head of Propulsion

Rebel Recruiters; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Rebel Recruiters seeks a Head of Propulsion to lead a greenfield aerospace propulsion function in Dubai. This senior role end-to-end owns team, plan, budget, test capability and supplier performance, balancing hands-on depth with leadership across the programme.

You will build and deliver propulsion systems from early development through testing toward production, challenging engineering decisions while aligning with the Chief Engineer and safety standards.

Qualifications

• 12+ years experience in propulsion, electric drives or powertrain engineering.
• 5+ years in airborne or safety-critical applications.
• Proven experience delivering propulsion or powertrain development through to hardware and ground testing.
• Experience owning programme plans, schedules and engineering delivery.
• Proven experience recruiting, building and leading senior technical engineering teams.
• Experience establishing or expanding powertrain or electric drive test capability.
• Knowledge of test facilities, instrumentation, high voltage systems and test safety.
• Strong hands on knowledge of powertrain architecture with the depth to challenge engineering decisions.
• Experience managing suppliers of complex or long lead technical components.
• Experience managing budgets, estimates and engineering investment.
• Strong multidisciplinary stakeholder and interface management skills.
• Ability to work effectively alongside a separate Chief Engineer or technical authority.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the propulsion engineering team and recruit Principal and Senior specialists.
• Own the propulsion delivery plan, including scope, sequencing, estimates and resources.
• Develop powertrain test capability with dynamometer and drive testing.
• Maintain hands-on involvement to assess drive sizing and challenge solutions.
• Manage supplier performance across motors, inverters and propulsors.
• Own propulsion budgets, programme estimates and investment requirements for test facilities.
• Interface with Flight Control, Battery & Energy Storage, Electrical, Structures and Industrialisation.
• Ensure safe execution across propulsion build and test environments.
• Identify, communicate and escalate technical and programme risks.
• Support progression of propulsion systems from prototype development to production.

Skills

Propulsion engineering

Powertrain engineering

Leadership

Test capability development

Supplier management

Budgets & investment

Stakeholder management

Safety critical thinking

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Electrical, Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Dynamometer testing

High voltage testing

Job description

We are recruiting for a Head of Propulsion to join a greenfield aerospace programme based in Dubai. This is a senior engineering leadership role with responsibility for building the propulsion function and delivering the powertrain from early development through testing and towards production. Working in partnership with the Chief Engineer, Propulsion, you will own the team, delivery plan, budget, test capability and supplier performance. While the Chief Engineer retains technical authority, you will ensure propulsion development is properly planned, resourced and delivered against programme objectives. This is a hands on leadership position requiring sufficient technical depth to challenge engineering decisions, assess powertrain solutions and identify technical and delivery risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lead the propulsion engineering team, recruiting and developing Principal and Senior specialists across electric drives and propulsor engineering.
• Own the propulsion delivery plan, including scope, sequencing, estimates, resources and integration with the wider aircraft programme.
• Establish and develop powertrain test capability, including dynamometer and drive testing, propulsor testing, instrumentation and safe high voltage and high power test environments.
• Maintain hands on technical involvement, including the ability to assess drive sizing and challenge engineering solutions.
• Manage supplier performance across motors, inverters and propulsors, including long lead components and delivery recovery.
• Own propulsion budgets, programme estimates and investment requirements for test facilities.
• Manage critical interfaces with Flight Control, Battery and Energy Storage, Electrical, Structures and Industrialisation.
• Ensure safe execution across propulsion build and test environments.
• Identify, communicate and escalat... technical and programme delivery risks.
• Support the progression of propulsion systems from prototype development and ground testing towards production.

We are looking for an experienced propulsion or powertrain engineering leader with the technical depth and leadership experience required to build and deliver a propulsion function within a complex aerospace or safety critical programme.

Essential Requirements

• 12+ years' experience in propulsion, electric drives or powertrain engineering.
• At least 5 years' experience within airborne or equivalent safety critical applications.
• Proven experience delivering propulsion or powertrain development through to physical hardware and completed rig or ground testing.
• Experience owning programme plans, schedules and engineering delivery.
• Proven experience recruiting, building and leading senior technical engineering teams.
• Experience establishing or significantly expanding powertrain or electric drive test capability.
• Knowledge of test facilities, instrumentation, high voltage systems and test safety.
• Strong hands on knowledge of powertrain architecture with the technical depth to assess and challenge engineering decisions.
• Experience managing suppliers of complex or long lead technical components.
• Experience managing budgets, estimates and engineering investment.
• Strong multidisciplinary stakeholder and interface management skills.
• Ability to work effectively alongside a separate Chief Engineer or technical authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience with eVTOL, electric or hybrid electric aircraft propulsion.
• Experience delivering greenfield aerospace or advanced engineering programmes.
• Experience building engineering teams, facilities or test capabilities from the ground up.
• Experience supporting the transition from prototype development through to production.