Senior UAV Propulsion Engineer — Hybrid & Hydrogen

Edge Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family visas

Annual flight tickets

Medical insurance for dependents

Education allowances for children

Job summary

EDGE Group in Abu Dhabi is seeking a senior propulsion engineer to lead exploratory and applied R&D into next‑generation UAV powertrains, including battery‑electric, hybrid, and hydrogen options. You will perform technology scouting, concept design, modelling, and prototyping in collaboration with Powertech Italy and external partners.

You will build the technology roadmap, size and simulate powertrains, oversee lab work, and coordinate tests with the Italy facility, suppliers, and universities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Energy, or Mechatronics Engineering (Master's/PhD desirable).
• 5+ years in propulsion or powertrain R&D, including hands-on work in at least one of electric, hybrid-electric, or hydrogen systems.
• Strong first-principles engineering, modelling, and prototyping ability.
• Demonstrated ability to take a technology from concept through feasibility to working demonstrator.

Responsibilities

• Technology Roadmap & Scouting: Roadmap — build and maintain Powertech's new-propulsion roadmap (electric, hybrid, hydrogen).
• Scouting & benchmarking — track technology and suppliers and benchmark competitor approaches.
• Concept Design & Feasibility: Concepts — develop concepts and feasibility studies for electric, hybrid-electric, and hydrogen powertrains sized to UAV platform classes.
• Trade studies — run trade studies on endurance, weight, power-to-weight, thermal management, packaging, cost, and safety.
• Powertrain modelling — model and size powertrains and energy systems; perform mission/energy, thermal, and integration analysis.
• Tools — use first-principles engineering and simulation (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python) to support design decisions.
• Prototyping & Testing: Demonstrators — design, build, and test demonstrators and bench rigs; be hands-on in the lab and test cell.
• Test coordination — coordinate test campaigns with the Test team and the Italy facility, including instrumentation and data analysis.
• Partnerships — work with technology partners, suppliers, and universities; frequent coordination and on-site work at the Italy facility.
• Supplier R&D — manage R&D supplier relationships and joint development activities.
• IP, Documentation & Hand-off — capture intellectual property and produce technical reports, concept definitions, and data to inform product decisions.
• Hand-off — transition validated concepts toward product development with the relevant Product Manager.

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Powertrain R&D

First-principles Modelling

Prototyping

Education

Aerospace Engineering

Masters/PhD desirable

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

EDGE Group in Abu Dhabi is seeking a senior propulsion engineer to lead exploratory and applied R&D into next‑generation UAV powertrains, including battery‑electric, hybrid, and hydrogen options. You will perform technology scouting, concept design, modelling, and prototyping in collaboration with Powertech Italy and external partners.

You will build the technology roadmap, size and simulate powertrains, oversee lab work, and coordinate tests with the Italy facility, suppliers, and universities.