Atropos Group
Principal Aircraft Propulsion Engineer Arlington, VA, Mountain View, CA, San Die
Atropos Group, Mountain View, California, us, 94039
About Us
We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship. If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it. Culture That Ships
Strong Core Values, Startup Execution.
Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset. Self-Starters Only.
You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way. One Team, No Tourists.
Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together. What’s In It for You
Mission With a Pulse.
Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict. Resources Without Red Tape.
VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility. Career-Defining Upside.
Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades. What You’ll Do
Down-select powerplant (turboprop, turbofan, or hybrid-electric) via trade studies on SFC, cost, and signature. Design inlet, nacelle, and exhaust systems meeting thermal & IR signature requirements. Lead engine-to-airframe integration including mounts, vibration isolation, and systems routing. Manage supplier interface through rig testing and first-flight readiness. What You Bring
B.S./M.S. in Aero, Mech, or Propulsion; >7 yrs integrating engines on military or certified platforms. Cycle-analysis proficiency (NPSS/Gasturb) and ANSYS CFX or Fluent for inlet/diffuser flow. Familiarity with MIL-STD-1797/516 engine-installation airworthiness. Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance. Bonus Points
Hybrid-electric or SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) experience. Compensation and Benefits
Base Salary: $165,000 to 245,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos’s total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: Platinum Healthcare Benefits: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility, adoption, and gestational carrier coverage Mental Health Resources: free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and life coaching Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses Daily Lunch catered Company-funded child care stipend Company-funded commuter benefits available based on region Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility) 401(k) retirement savings plan with 6% employer matching The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about compensation and benefit details during the hiring process. Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply. Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to a voluntary self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and confidential. This information will not be considered in the hiring decision and is kept in a confidential file. Details on disability categories and how the data is used are provided in the form.
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We’re a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America’s edge depends on autonomous airpower that’s trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we’ve secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We’ve structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no “systems integrator” overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship. If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you’ll build faster here than anywhere else. Let’s get after it. Culture That Ships
Strong Core Values, Startup Execution.
Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment—powered by a bias for action and a “figure it out” mindset. Self-Starters Only.
You’ll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way. One Team, No Tourists.
Whether you’re tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together. What’s In It for You
Mission With a Pulse.
Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict. Resources Without Red Tape.
VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility. Career-Defining Upside.
Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades. What You’ll Do
Down-select powerplant (turboprop, turbofan, or hybrid-electric) via trade studies on SFC, cost, and signature. Design inlet, nacelle, and exhaust systems meeting thermal & IR signature requirements. Lead engine-to-airframe integration including mounts, vibration isolation, and systems routing. Manage supplier interface through rig testing and first-flight readiness. What You Bring
B.S./M.S. in Aero, Mech, or Propulsion; >7 yrs integrating engines on military or certified platforms. Cycle-analysis proficiency (NPSS/Gasturb) and ANSYS CFX or Fluent for inlet/diffuser flow. Familiarity with MIL-STD-1797/516 engine-installation airworthiness. Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance. Bonus Points
Hybrid-electric or SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) experience. Compensation and Benefits
Base Salary: $165,000 to 245,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Atropos’s total compensation package. Additionally, Atropos offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: Platinum Healthcare Benefits: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility, adoption, and gestational carrier coverage Mental Health Resources: free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and life coaching Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses Daily Lunch catered Company-funded child care stipend Company-funded commuter benefits available based on region Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility) 401(k) retirement savings plan with 6% employer matching The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about compensation and benefit details during the hiring process. Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply. Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to a voluntary self-identification survey. Completion is voluntary and confidential. This information will not be considered in the hiring decision and is kept in a confidential file. Details on disability categories and how the data is used are provided in the form.
#J-18808-Ljbffr