Senior Propulsion Test Engineer

• Los Angeles
• On-site
• Yearly salary: $130,000 - $176,000

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.

Skills & Requirements

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.