Chief Engineer Propulsion and Energy

Chief Engineer — Propulsion and EnergyWe are building a next-generation aerospace platform and an integrated sovereign data communications network. The programme is at an early stage — the founding engineering team is being assembled to take the aircraft from concept through certification and into production. This is a greenfield opportunity to shape the technical direction of a programme that will define a new category of aviation capability.Purpose of the RoleYou will own the electric propulsion architecture: motor selection and sizing, battery system design, battery management system architecture, high-voltage power distribution, and thermal management. The battery energy density requirement is the single highest technical risk on the programme, and resolving that risk is your primary accountability. You will also define the certification approach for rechargeable lithium batteries, which involves cell-level qualification testing, pack-level abuse testing, and thermal runaway containment evidence.Key ResponsibilitiesDefine the propulsion architecture: motor type selection, sizing, count, and configuration aligned to the vehicle performance requirements and the flight control system authority constraints.Own the battery system strategy: cell chemistry selection, pack configuration, module architecture, battery management system design, and thermal runaway containment approach.Own the high-voltage power distribution architecture: bus voltage selection, redundancy approach, fault isolation, and contactor sequencing.Own the thermal management architecture for the complete propulsion system, designed for sustained operations in hot-climate environments.Define the battery certification approach including cell-level qualification testing, pack-level abuse testing, and containment evidence production.Lead supplier technical engagement for motors, battery cells, and power electronics — evaluating candidates on technical fit, certification readiness, and integration architecture.First 90-Day DeliverablesPropulsion architecture defined: motor class selected with sizing rationale, propulsion configuration documented, and performance margin analysis initiated.Battery trade study completed with energy density sensitivity analysis showing the relationship between pack-level energy density and vehicle performance across all mission profiles.High-voltage bus concept defined: voltage level, redundancy approach, fault isolation strategy, and contactor architecture.Battery certification plan outlined with cell qualification scope, abuse test matrix, and thermal runaway containment strategy. Cell supplier engagement initiated.Required Experience — Must Have15+ years electric propulsion systems engineering, with at least one programme where you held design authority for a complete propulsion system.Battery systems expertise: cell chemistry assessment, pack design, BMS architecture, thermal runaway propagation analysis, and containment design.Battery certification standard knowledge: you have applied or assessed programmes against rechargeable lithium battery certification requirements.High-voltage power distribution for electric aircraft or equivalent electric vehicle systems.Thermal management for electric propulsion in demanding thermal environments.Required Experience — PreferredeVTOL or electric aircraft propulsion experience.Motor design or selection for aerospace applications.Experience managing the battery energy density risk through architecture and supplier engagement.Key CompetenciesEnergy systems architecture: ability to trade motor count, battery capacity, bus voltage, and thermal limits as an integrated system rather than optimising each in isolation.Risk management: the battery energy density challenge requires a structured approach to risk identification, mitigation, and contingency — not optimism.Supplier technical engagement: ability to assess battery cell and motor suppliers on engineering terms, not just commercial terms.Certification evidence strategy: you understand what evidence the certification authority will require for battery safety and you plan backwards from that.Thermal systems thinking: propulsion thermal management interacts with airframe, avionics, and cabin — you coordinate across boundaries.Success Metrics (12 Months)Battery energy density risk has a bounded mitigation plan with quantified contingencies within six months.Motor selection closed by system requirements review with certification path confirmed.Propulsion architecture supports preliminary design review with positive energy margins across all mission profiles.Cell qualification laboratory contracted and test programme initiated.