Principal Propulsor & Powertrain Integration

Aviation JobSearch Europa; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Principal Propulsor & Powertrain Integration Engineer to own the propulsion system design and its integration into the airframe.

You will lead design of shrouded lift fans, powertrain installation, and testing, collaborating with propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable performance in hot-climate hover and cruise.

Qualifications

• 10+ years propulsion installation and turbomachinery experience.
• Aircraft propulsion integration experience with hardware testing.
• Strong rotor dynamics and vibration knowledge.
• Experience with thrust stands or whirl rigs.

Responsibilities

• Lead propulsor design and integration across hover, transition, and cruise.
• Own rotor dynamics, imbalance, and vibration transmission analyses.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, and systems teams.
• Lead propulsion installation testing and translate results to design.
• Assess cooling installation and mass/energy impacts.

Skills

Propulsor design

Rotor dynamics

Vibration analysis

Propulsion installation

Aerodynamics collaboration

Testing propulsion systems

Tools

Thrust stand

Whirl rig

Vibration testing equipment

Cooling installation tools

Job description

Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd Verified

United Arab Emirates

General Engineers

Electric Propulsion Engineer

Onsite

Full time

Principal Propulsor & Powertrain Integration Engineer

Location: UAE

About The Role

As the Principal Propulsor & Powertrain Integration Engineer, you will take technical ownership of the aircraft’s propulsors and their integration into the airframe.

You will work across shrouded lift fans, cruise pushers and the associated powertrain installation, ensuring the propulsion system delivers the required performance while integrating effectively with the aircraft structure, aerodynamics, cooling and wider systems.

This is a broad Phase 1 role combining propulsor aeromechanics and powertrain installation, with the opportunity for the function to develop into more specialised roles as the programme grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead propulsor design, including duct and shroud geometry, blade design, hub and bearing arrangements, tip clearance and performance across hover, transition and cruise.
• Own rotor dynamics and vibration analysis, including critical speeds, imbalance, blade‑loss scenarios and vibration transmission into the airframe.
• Consider propulsor acoustics as a key design constraint, working closely with the aerodynamics and flight sciences teams.
• Lead powertrain installation engineering, including mounts, pylons, load paths, alignment and maintenance accessibility.
• Assess installation impacts on aircraft aerodynamics and overall propulsion performance.
• Own the one‑drive‑inoperative installation case, including asymmetric loads, vibration, thermal effects and implications for structure and cooling.
• Lead cooling installation design, including inlets, ducting, heat exchanger placement and installed thermal performance in hot‑climate hover conditions.
• Provide propulsor and installation inputs into aircraft‑level mass, energy and power assessments.
• Lead propulsor and installation testing, including thrust stand, whirl rig and vibration testing.
• Analyse test results and translate findings into design improvements.
• Work closely with propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, systems, test and manufacturing teams.

Required Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in propulsion installation, turbomachinery, rotor, fan or propeller engineering, including at least 4 years in aircraft applications.
• Proven ownership of a fan, propeller, rotor or propulsion installation design through to hardware and testing.
• Strong rotor dynamics and vibration knowledge, including critical speed analysis, imbalance, blade‑loss cases and vibration transmission.
• Strong installation engineering experience, including mounts, load paths, alignment and integration with aircraft aerodynamics.
• Sufficient aerodynamic expertise to take ownership of propulsor performance and work effectively with dedicated aerodynamics teams.
• Experience with thrust stands, whirl rigs or equivalent propulsor testing, with the ability to translate test results into design changes.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with ducted, shrouded or distributed electric propulsion.
• Experience with eVTOL aircraft, particularly hover, transition and one‑unit‑inoperative conditions.
• Experience in aeroacoustics and community noise certification.
• Experience with whirl flutter and aeroelastic interactions between propulsors and flexible structures.
• Composite blade design and qualification experience.