Job Description
Job Description
Principal Turbomachinery Engineer – Founding Team Member Driving Next-Generation Propulsion Systems!
Southern California | Hybrid
Opportunity Summary
A well-funded, stealth-mode company in Southern California is developing a new generation of propulsion systems that combine automation, high-precision manufacturing, and rapid iteration to redefine what’s possible in air-breathing and hybrid engines. The company’s mission is to enable America’s next industrial leap by building power-dense, scalable propulsion architectures that can move from prototype to production at unprecedented speed. We are seeking a Principal Turbomachinery Engineer to serve as a key member of the founding technical team. This person will establish the foundation of our turbomachinery architecture, lead hands-on design and testing, and guide the methodologies that shape our engine programs. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to create compact, efficient, and manufacturable propulsion systems that deliver exceptional thrust-to-weight performance.
About Us
Our company is uniting advanced engineering, intelligent manufacturing, and precision automation to deliver the next evolution in propulsion technology. We design systems for performance, cost efficiency, and scalability, operating with the speed and focus of a startup but tackling challenges at a national-strategic scale. Engineers here work across the full spectrum — from concept and simulation to hardware build and test execution —ensuring every design is optimized not just for performance, but also for manufacturability and repeatable production. We believe intelligent manufacturing is engineering at scale, and that principle drives how we think, design, and build.
Job Duties
- Lead full lifecycle development of turbomachinery components and assemblies, including compressors, turbines, and rotating systems.
- Drive engine development from concept through validation, owning design decisions that balance performance, cost, and manufacturability.
- Create and iterate 3D geometry and CAD models for engine components and subassemblies.
- Conduct aerodynamic, thermodynamic, and rotor dynamic analyses to refine efficiency, reliability, and thrust-to-weight ratios.
- Develop or specify bearing systems, seals, materials, and balancing approaches to meet demanding operational requirements.
- Collaborate with combustion, controls, and subsystem engineers to achieve tightly integrated propulsion architectures.
- Establish testing methodologies and support the development of test rigs, fixtures, and instrumentation for validation and data capture.
- Translate analytical models into actionable hardware improvements through iterative design cycles.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship as the company builds a world-class propulsion and mechanical engineering team.
- Contribute to long-term architecture planning and propulsion roadmaps aligned with company growth objectives.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field.
- 5+ years of experience in gas turbine, jet engine, or high-speed rotating machinery design and development.
- Expertise in rotating assembly design, CFD, and rotor dynamics, with strong mechanical intuition and analytical rigor.
- Experience working with metals, alloys, and manufacturing techniques suitable for high-temperature and high-stress applications.
- Proficiency in engineering tools such as ANSYS, STAR-CCM+, SolidWorks, NX, or Concepts NREC.
- Demonstrated ability to move designs rapidly from concept and simulation to physical build and test.
Preferred Experience
- Background in small turbine, jet, or unmanned aircraft propulsion systems.
- Hands-on experience with experimental hot-fire testing or cold gassing of turbomachinery prototypes.
- Familiarity with Turbine Cycle Analysis (NPSS) and software such as AxStream or Concepts NREC for design optimization.
- Prior involvement in test rig development, instrumentation setup, and data correlation for validation.
- Experience in startup or R&D environments requiring rapid iteration and design ownership from concept to deployment.
- Proven record of developing energy-dense systems that meet or exceed performance targets under aggressive timelines.
Why Join Us
- Be part of a founding engineering team shaping the next generation of American propulsion technology.
- Lead projects that merge aerospace performance with intelligent manufacturing and real-world scalability.
- Direct involvement in end-to-end development, from early concept through hardware build and test.
- Work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with strong technical autonomy.
- Competitive compensation package with equity participation and performance incentives.
- Opportunities for career growth, leadership development, and hands-on innovation.
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible PTO, and relocation support.
Compensation Details
$200,000 - $280,000
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