Head of Propulsion Engineering (Gas Turbine Engines)

RecruitAERO provides embedded, high-impact recruitment support for innovative aerospace companies. We are partnering with a well-funded startup seeking a Propulsion Engineering leader who is excited about building the future from the ground up.

Position Perks

• 100% paid health insurance for employees and families

• PTO and paid holidays

• Opportunity to be one of the earliest hires at a rapidly growing company

What if the next chapter of your career wasn’t about maintaining legacy systems, but building the future from day one?

This is not a corporate “plug into the machine” role. It’s an opportunity for a proven propulsion leader to join an early-stage company with experienced founders, strong backing, and a bold vision.

The founder has already built and scaled a successful aerospace company once before, and is doing it again with a clean-sheet product and a rare opportunity for the right technical leader to help shape the company from the beginning.

As one of the earliest hires, you will influence the technology roadmap, help build the engineering organization, shape company strategy, and remain closely connected to the hardware.

We are seeking an Engineering Propulsion Engineering leader who thrives in high-autonomy, high-accountability environments and someone equally comfortable defining technical strategy and solving complex engineering challenges hands-on.

This role is ideal for a builder and problem solver energized by creating momentum in a startup

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Head of Propulsion Engineering to lead the design, development, and scaling of advanced gas turbine engine systems.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in gas turbine engine design with proven leadership experience and is comfortable operating strategically and tactically. You will play a critical role in shaping the propulsion roadmap, establishing engineering processes, mentoring a growing team, and driving hardware development from concept through testing.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Product Development

• Lead the end-to-end design, development, and integration of gas turbine propulsion systems, from concept through testing and production

• Maintain hands-on involvement in engineering activities including architecture, analysis, and design reviews

• Drive first-principles engineering approaches to solve complex propulsion challenges

• Oversee performance modeling, thermodynamic cycle analysis, and component-level design (compressors, combustors, turbines, etc.)

• Ensure robust validation, testing, and iteration cycles aligned with aggressive development timelines

Engineering Strategy & Execution

• Define and execute the company’s propulsion technology roadmap aligned with business objectives

• Establish scalable engineering processes, tools, and best practices for a high-growth environment

• Balance speed and rigor to enable rapid iteration while maintaining technical excellence and safety

• Partner cross-functionally with manufacturing, test, flight operations, and program management teams

Team Building & Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead a world-class propulsion engineering team, including recruiting top-tier talent

• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and technical excellence

• Develop organizational structure, career paths, and performance standards for engineering staff

• Serve as a key member of the executive/leadership team (CTO track) or senior technical leadership (Director track)

Stakeholder & External Engagement

• Collaborate with leadership, investors, and partners to communicate technical vision and progress

• Support customer and partner engagements with deep technical credibility

• Represent the company in technical discussions, reviews, and industry forums as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• 12+ years of experience in gas turbine engine design and development (aerospace or industrial applications)

• Demonstrated experience designing or contributing to compressors, turbines, combustors, or full engine systems

• Proven ability to lead engineering teams in a fast-paced, high-growth or startup environment

• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and propulsion systems

• Experience taking products from concept through test and/or production

• Must be willing to work in Atlanta, GA

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

• Prior experience in a startup or rapid development environment

• Experience with engine testing, validation, and certification processes

• Familiarity with manufacturing methods and design for manufacturability (DFM)

• Background in high-speed, high-performance, or novel propulsion systems

• Experience interfacing with DoD, commercial aerospace customers, or research institutions