Firestorm Labs
Staff Mechanical Engineer, Propulsion
$180K–$215K
San Diego, United States · On-site · Staff · Full-time · Posted Oct 9, 2026
- Experience
- 7+ years of experience in propulsion engineering small piston engines.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or a related field; a master’s in a similar discipline is preferred.
- Visa sponsorship
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual, or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State or Department of Commerce authorizations under export-control regulations.
About the job
Owns the development, integration, testing, and qualification of piston and micro-turbojet propulsion systems for Firestorm’s unmanned aircraft.
What you'll do
- Select, integrate, calibrate, and qualify engines and associated fuel, ignition, inlet, exhaust, and propeller systems.
- Plan and conduct engine-stand and flight tests; analyze performance and investigate propulsion failures.
- Coordinate propulsion interfaces, documentation, procurement, and testing with engineering teams and suppliers.
What they ask for
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering, or a related field.
- U.S. Person as defined by 22 CFR § 120.62, as required due to ITAR regulations.
- 7+ years of experience in propulsion engineering small piston engines.
- Hands-on engine test-stand experience; EFI and fuel-system design experience; structured failure investigations; and proficiency in Python or MATLAB.
Nice to have
- Experience with heavy-fuel systems or JP-5/JP-8 engine integration and qualification.
- Experience with sUAS propulsion, ECU data analysis, or flight test (FAA Part 107 or Part 61).
Pay
USD $180,000 - $215,000 base salary
Tools
Python, MATLAB, EFI, JP-5, JP-8
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative