Senior Propulsion Integration Engineer

Approach Venture; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Approach Venture in Fort Worth, Texas is seeking a Senior Propulsion Integration Engineer to own propulsion architecture across unmanned aircraft platforms. You will evaluate piston, electric, hybrid, and turbine propulsion options and lead integration of engines, motors, and power systems.

You will work with aerodynamics, structures, avionics, manufacturing, and flight test teams from early trade studies through production, traveling to sites as needed.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience.
• Direct experience developing or integrating propulsion systems for unmanned aircraft.
• Hands-on experience with fixed-wing aircraft propulsion integration.
• Experience taking propulsion systems through development, ground testing, flight testing, and production.
• Strong understanding of propulsion performance, thermal management, vibration, structural interfaces, and aircraft integration.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary aircraft engineering teams.
• Ability to independently lead major propulsion architecture and integration decisions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Ability to travel approximately 15%.

Responsibilities

• Own propulsion architecture and configuration decisions across fixed-wing UAS platforms.
• Evaluate propulsion options based on performance, range, endurance, reliability, thermal constraints, acoustic signature, cost, and manufacturability.
• Lead integration of engines and electric motors with propellers, mounts, cooling systems, exhaust systems, electrical generation, batteries, and supporting hardware.
• Own integration of small turbine and jet propulsion systems, including inlet and exhaust configuration, fuel systems, thermal protection, structural interfaces, and thrust alignment.
• Define propulsion design margins, system requirements, and integration standards across aircraft programs.
• Work closely with structures and airframe teams to manage propulsion loads, vibration, thermal environments, and packaging constraints.
• Develop propulsion ground and flight test plans covering thrust, endurance, thermal performance, vibration, reliability, and failure modes.
• Support flight test campaigns and lead technical investigations related to propulsion anomalies or performance issues.
• Use test results to drive design changes, configuration maturity, and reliability improvements.
• Transition propulsion systems from prototype configurations into low-rate and scaled production.
• Ensure propulsion installations are manufacturable, maintainable, documented, and suitable for operational deployment.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams on supplier qualification, production readiness, and rate scaling.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to propulsion, mechanical, and integration engineers.
• Lead propulsion discussions during design reviews, failure investigations, supplier engagements, and customer technical reviews.
• Travel to test sites, production facilities, supplier locations, and customer locations as required.

Skills

Propulsion engineering

Unmanned aircraft propulsion

Fixed-wing propulsion integration

Systems integration

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Senior Propulsion Integration Engineer – Own propulsion architecture across next-generation unmanned aircraft

Fort Worth, Texas | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a growing aerospace and defense company developing fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems for government and commercial applications. The team is building aircraft designed around rapid deployment, scalable production, and reliable performance in demanding operating environments. As the Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer, you will own propulsion architecture, selection, and integration across multiple aircraft platforms. The role spans piston, electric, and turbine propulsion systems and carries responsibility from early trade studies and system design through ground testing, flight test, production, and field deployment. You will serve as a senior technical authority for propulsion-related decisions while working closely with aerodynamics, structures, avionics, systems, manufacturing, and flight test teams.

About Us

We are a growing aerospace and defense company developing and manufacturing advanced unmanned aircraft systems. The engineering organization works across the full aircraft lifecycle, from early design and prototype development through flight testing and production. The company is focused on building practical, producible aircraft platforms that can transition quickly from development into operational use.

Job Duties

• Own propulsion architecture and configuration decisions across fixed-wing UAS platforms
• Evaluate piston, electric, hybrid, and turbine propulsion options based on aircraft performance, range, endurance, reliability, thermal constraints, acoustic signature, cost, and manufacturability
• Lead integration of engines and electric motors with propellers, mounts, cooling systems, exhaust systems, electrical generation, batteries, and supporting hardware
• Own integration of small turbine and jet propulsion systems, including inlet and exhaust configuration, fuel systems, thermal protection, structural interfaces, and thrust alignment
• Define propulsion design margins, system requirements, and integration standards across aircraft programs
• Work closely with structures and airframe teams to manage propulsion loads, vibration, thermal environments, and packaging constraints
• Develop propulsion ground and flight test plans covering thrust, endurance, thermal performance, vibration, reliability, and failure modes
• Support flight test campaigns and lead technical investigations related to propulsion anomalies or performance issues
• Use test results to drive design changes, configuration maturity, and reliability improvements
• Transition propulsion systems from prototype configurations into low-rate and scaled production
• Ensure propulsion installations are manufacturable, maintainable, documented, and suitable for operational deployment
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams on supplier qualification, production readiness, and rate scaling
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to propulsion, mechanical, and integration engineers
• Lead propulsion discussions during design reviews, failure investigations, supplier engagements, and customer technical reviews
• Travel to test sites, production facilities, supplier locations, and customer locations as required

Qualifications

• 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience
• Direct experience developing or integrating propulsion systems for unmanned aircraft
• Hands-on experience with fixed-wing aircraft propulsion integration
• Experience taking propulsion systems through development, ground testing, flight testing, and production
• Strong understanding of propulsion performance, thermal management, vibration, structural interfaces, and aircraft integration
• Experience working across multidisciplinary aircraft engineering teams
• Ability to independently lead major propulsion architecture and integration decisions
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Ability to travel approximately 15%

Preferred Experience

• Experience integrating multiple propulsion architectures, including piston engines, electric motors, and small turbine or jet systems
• Experience with propeller selection and integration
• Knowledge of aircraft fuel system architecture and integration
• Experience with FADEC-controlled propulsion systems
• Familiarity with battery management systems and high-voltage electric propulsion
• Experience with hybrid-electric propulsion architectures
• Understanding of aircraft airworthiness requirements and certification considerations
• Experience conducting reliability analysis or propulsion failure investigations
• Experience supporting operational aircraft or field sustainment
• Background working in rapid aircraft development and flight test environments
• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline

Why Join Us

• Own propulsion architecture across multiple unmanned aircraft platforms
• Work across the complete development lifecycle from initial system trades through flight and production
• Influence major aircraft-level technical decisions in a high-ownership engineering environment
• Help transition new aircraft systems from prototype hardware into scalable manufacturing and operational deployment
• Work directly with multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, test, and program teams
• 401(k) with company matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off

Compensation Details

$150,000 – $190,000

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