Propulsion Test Engineer

Heart Aerospace; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative aerospace company is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer in Los Angeles, CA. This role involves leading the testing and validation of a hybrid-electric powertrain system. Candidates should have 5+ years of experience in propulsion engineering and strong knowledge of electric systems. The position offers a salary range from $130,000 to $176,000 USD, along with opportunities to work on cutting-edge aviation technology.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in powertrain or propulsion engineering.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating powertrain test stands.
• Deep understanding of electric powertrains including motors and inverters.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute system-level powertrain testing including electric motors.
• Design and commission hybrid-electric propulsion test stands.
• Collaborate with teams to develop test procedures for propulsion systems.

Skills

Powertrain experience

Instrumentation and control

Data acquisition systems

Analytical skills

High voltage safety

Education

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

Tools

dSPACE

NI

Dewesoft

Python

LabVIEW

Job description

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.

Your Mission

We are seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to join our Dynamic Propulsion team in El Segundo, CA. You will lead the testing, validation and certification of the aircraft’s hybrid-electric powertrain system. You will also interface across mechanical, thermal, propulsion, actuation, avionics, and battery teams to develop, execute, and analyze integrated system-level tests of the Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) and its subsystems.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and execute system-level powertrain testing, including electric motor, inverter, gearbox, disconnect systems, and propeller subsystems.
• Design and commission hybrid-electric propulsion test stands, HIL, and Digital Twin, including instrumentation, safety systems, control systems, and data acquisition.
• Plan, execute, and document test campaigns to verify performance, safety, and certification compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop test procedures and test plans for integrated propulsion systems.
• Coordinate with suppliers and external labs to support component and system-level testing.
• Analyze test data, prepare reports, and provide feedback to design teams for iterative development.
• Support environmental, endurance, fault-injection, and compliance testing for certification readiness.

Qualifications

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional experience in powertrain, propulsion, or test engineering, with electric or ideally hybrid-electric systems.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating powertrain or propulsion test stands with complex instrumentation and control.
• Deep understanding of electric powertrains including motors, inverters, batteries, and thermal management systems.
• Proficiency with data acquisition systems (e.g., dSPACE, NI, Dewesoft) and instrumentation (current/voltage sensors, thermocouples, strain gauges).
• Experience developing automated test procedures and control scripts (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, or similar).
• Strong analytical skills in interpreting test data and diagnosing system performance and failure modes.
• Understanding of high voltage safety standards and procedures for testing environments.

Nice to have

These qualifications would be nice to have:

• Familiarity with aerospace certification requirements (EASA CS-23/25 or FAA FAR Part 23/25).
• Experience with DO-160 or MIL-STD environmental test standards.
• Experience with root cause analysis and tools such as DFMEA and fault tree analysis.
• Background in hybrid propulsion systems or aerospace propulsion integration.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or related fields.

Base Pay Range:

$130,000—$176,000 USD