Propulsion Engineer — Hands-on Test & Calibration Lead

Poseidon Aerospace; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Equity—early‑stage

6% retirement matching

Unlimited PTO

Free lunches & snacks

AI tools & subscriptions

Job summary

Poseidon Aerospace in the San Francisco Bay Area seeks a Propulsion Engineer to lead our propulsion team from assembly to flight readiness. This hands‑on role focuses on engine assembly, tuning, qualification, and testing on instrumented stands.

You will run tests, develop procedures, and collaborate across disciplines to validate performance and durability. A passion for aviation and hands‑on engine work will help you thrive in our fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on EFI piston engine tuning experience in aviation or motorsport.
• Experience qualifying engines on a test cell, dyno, or test stand.
• Knowledge of aviation fuels and calibration effects.
• Bench and on-aircraft troubleshooting ability.

Responsibilities

• Calibrate engines across the full aviation envelope: ECU tuning, fueling, ignition, idle stability, and governor settings.
• Run engine test programs on instrumented stands: break‑in, mapping, endurance, and flight‑ready qualification.
• Bring up integrated engines from assembled hardware, diagnose faults, and close out anomalies.
• Operate test instrumentation and DAQ to drive propulsion system improvements.
• Translate findings, present data, and collaborate to drive design changes across teams.
• Develop break‑in, operating, inspection, and maintenance procedures for test stands.

Skills

ECU tuning

Engine dyno

Test stand operation

Powerplant calibration

AvGas/MoGas knowledge

Diagnostics

Job description

Poseidon Aerospace in the San Francisco Bay Area seeks a Propulsion Engineer to lead our propulsion team from assembly to flight readiness. This hands‑on role focuses on engine assembly, tuning, qualification, and testing on instrumented stands.

You will run tests, develop procedures, and collaborate across disciplines to validate performance and durability. A passion for aviation and hands‑on engine work will help you thrive in our fast‑paced environment.