Jet Propulsion Integration Engineer

Jet Propulsion Integration Engineer

Location: Croatia or UAE (on‑site)
Employment Type: Full‑time
Compensation: Competitive (salary + benefits)

What Propels Us:

PAiREGRINE is a high‑speed autonomous Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) jet UAV built to operate where time, range, and reliability matter. The aircraft combines micro‑turbine propulsion, onboard AI, and advanced sensing into a compact, high‑performance platform designed for real‑world missions.

For a jet UAV, propulsion integration is non‑negotiable. Installed performance—not brochure thrust—defines success. This role exists because getting the engine into the aircraft correctly is just as critical as the engine itself.

The Impact You’ll Make

You will own the propulsion system as an installed, flying reality, not a standalone engine. Your work determines thrust delivery, fuel efficiency, thermal margins, reliability, and how well the aircraft performs across its mission envelope.

From engine selection through test‑stand validation and flight integration, you ensure the propulsion system works as part of a tightly coupled aircraft—not an afterthought bolted on late.

What will you actually do?

• Own selection and integration of the micro‑turbine propulsion system (PBS or alternatives)
• Design engine mounting structures, intake geometry, exhaust routing, and shielding
• Develop and own the fuel system architecture from tank to combustor
• Manage thermal behavior, cooling strategies, and heat rejection across the airframe
• Integrate FADEC with avionics, power, and control systems
• Analyze installed thrust, specific fuel consumption (SFC), and generator outputs
• Design and run engine test stands, test procedures, and propulsion validation plans
• Optimize propulsion performance for real mission conditions—not datasheet assumptions
• Ensure propulsion reliability across startup, steady‑state, and transient regimes

What You’ve Done

• 8+ years of experience in turbine propulsion, UAV propulsion, or aerospace mechanical engineering
• Hands‑on experience integrating gas turbine or micro‑turbine engines into air vehicles
• Strong understanding of fuel systems, thermal management, and propulsion packaging
• Experience working with FADEC systems and avionics interfaces
• Direct involvement in engine testing, test rigs, or propulsion validation campaigns
• Clear understanding of installed performance, not just engine specifications

Bonus Points

• Experience with PBS micro‑turbines or similar small jet engines
• Prior ownership of propulsion integration on a flying UAV or experimental aircraft
• Experience balancing propulsion performance with structural, thermal, and systems constraints
• Background in high‑speed or long‑range UAV platforms

Why Join Us

• You’ll be supported and rewarded with competitive compensation while contributing to a mission‑driven program making an impact on a global stage.
• You’ll own one of the most mission‑critical systems on a jet UAV—end to end
• You’ll work on real hardware with real performance consequences
• You’ll collaborate closely with aerodynamics, structures, systems, and flight‑test teams
• You’ll help bring a jet‑class autonomous aircraft from integration to flight

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

• Have you personally integrated a gas turbine or micro‑turbine engine into an air vehicle (UAV or aircraft), beyond supplier coordination or paper studies?
• Have you owned installed propulsion performance analysis (installed thrust, SFC, inlet/exhaust losses), not just engine datasheet evaluation?
• Have you designed or owned a fuel system architecture for a turbine engine (from tank to combustor), including pumps, plumbing, and safety considerations?
• Have you been directly involved in engine testing or propulsion validation (test stand, ground runs, or flight integration)?
• Have you integrated or worked hands‑on with FADEC systems and their interfaces to avionics, power, or control systems?

Work Location: In person