Role

Sorian Aerospace is building a high-performance fighter-class jet for adversary air (Red Air) missions and advanced pilot training. The goal: deliver the maneuverability, integrated electronic warfare, BVR targeting, autonomous flight, CCA interoperability, and flight experience of front-line fighters — at a fraction of the cost. As a Propulsion Engineer, you’ll work hands-on with engines, fuel systems, controls, and hardware that puts thrust on the airplane. You’ll be responsible for system-level integration of jet propulsion units, startup and tuning, ground testing, and flight readiness. You’ll work side-by-side with structures, avionics, and systems teams to make sure the propulsion system performs as designed — every time. This is not a modeling job. You’ll be firing up engines, troubleshooting them, and shipping working hardware that flies.

Responsibilities

Integrate off-the-shelf or modified jet engines into the airframe
Design and route fuel, electrical, and control systems required for safe engine operation
Run ground test campaigns to validate startup, spool-up behavior, thermal loading, and thrust output
Assist with FADEC tuning, throttle response, and powertrain calibration
Monitor engine health and performance during flight test and support root cause analysis
Own propulsion-related instrumentation, sensors, and data logging
Support hardware fabrication, mounting, and vibration isolation efforts

Requirements

3–7 years of hands-on propulsion experience — preferably on jet or turbine engines
Experience integrating engines into airframes or test stands
Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, turbomachinery, and powerplant subsystems
Familiarity with FADEC systems, startup sequences, and throttle response tuning
Able to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, or software issues in real time
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required

Results

Deliver a propulsion system that works from startup to shutdown
Support flight test with confidence in engine safety, performance, and instrumentation
Help develop a test-and-iterate loop for propulsion improvements

Availability

Full-time, based in Long Beach, CA
Some evenings and weekends may be required during build, test, or flight ops

Compensation Range

$120,000–$180,000 base salary

meaningful equity
complete healthcare benefits for you and your dependents

Company Core Values

We run it hotter. We run it faster.
We solve problems at the engine, not the spreadsheet.
We value engineers who take full ownership — from bolt pattern to flameholder. To apply: Email your resume and a short write-up on an engine system you’ve worked on — what went wrong, how you fixed it, and what you’d do differently next time — to propulsion@sorianaero.com or click the “Apply Now” button below.

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