Senior Propulsion Test Engineer

Job Description

At Heart Aerospace we develop the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric airplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, an electric zero-emission range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. Heart is targeting type certification of the ES-30 by the end of the decade.

Your Mission

We are seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to join our Dynamic Propulsion team in El Segundo, CA. You will lead the testing, validation and certification of the aircraft’s hybrid-electric powertrain system. You will also interface across mechanical, thermal, propulsion, actuation, avionics, and battery teams to develop, execute, and analyze integrated system-level tests of the Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU) and its subsystems.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and execute system-level powertrain testing, including electric motor, inverter, gearbox, disconnect systems, and propeller subsystems.
• Design and commission hybrid-electric propulsion test stands, HIL, and Digital Twin, including instrumentation, safety systems, control systems, and data acquisition.
• Plan, execute, and document test campaigns to verify performance, safety, and certification compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop test procedures and test plans for integrated propulsion systems.
• Coordinate with suppliers and external labs to support component and system-level testing.
• Analyze test data, prepare reports, and provide feedback to design teams for iterative development.
• Support environmental, endurance, fault-injection, and compliance testing for certification readiness.

You'll Bring These

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional experience in powertrain, propulsion, or test engineering, with electric or ideally hybrid-electric systems.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating powertrain or propulsion test stands with complex instrumentation and control.
• Deep understanding of electric powertrains including motors, inverters, batteries, and thermal management systems.
• Proficiency with data acquisition systems (e.g., dSPACE, NI, Dewesoft) and instrumentation (current/voltage sensors, thermocouples, strain gauges).
• Experience developing automated test procedures and control scripts (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, or similar).
• Strong analytical skills in interpreting test data and diagnosing system performance and failure modes.
• Understanding of high voltage safety standards and procedures for testing environments.

These Qualifications Would Be Nice to Have:

• Familiarity with aerospace certification requirements (EASA CS-23/25 or FAA FAR Part 23/25).
• Experience with DO-160 or MIL-STD environmental test standards.
• Experience with root cause analysis and tools such as DFMEA and fault tree analysis.
• Background in hybrid propulsion systems or aerospace propulsion integration.

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace Engineering, or related fields.

Heart Aerospace has a clear mission. We work to decarbonize and democratize air travel. We believe in electrification. Not only to bring down emissions and build a sustainable future, but to make flying accessible for the many, around the world.

Electric planes are cheaper to operate and can unlock convenient and effective regional traveling, a market that today is restricted by the difficulty of making a sustainable profit. Our mission is about taking electrification to the skies, helping our customers build their businesses, and the traveling public to access an amazing and sustainable service.

Working at Heart Aerospace is not just a career; it is a chance to directly make the world more accessible and sustainable. Come help us write a new chapter in the history of aviation together!

We seek experienced and skilled professionals to join our fast-moving team developing a new electric aircraft. We’re in a very expansive phase and now is the time to join our team! Visit our career site and check out what it is like working at Heart.

Heart Aerospace is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Heart Aerospace participates in E-Verify.