Head Engineer

Syntrex Advanced Systems is building advanced manufacturing technology for aerospace and defense, with a long-term ambition to develop increasingly proprietary manufacturing capability and ultimately expand into vertically integrated aerospace, defense, and space systems.We are currently pre-hardware and pre-seed, moving from developed technical architecture into physical validation, engineering-team formation, and eventually real production systems.We are looking for a Founding Chief Engineer / Head Engineer to help lead that transition.This is not a conventional engineering-management role. There is no large organization to inherit. The right person will help shape the technical organization itself, what gets built, what gets tested first, what evidence is required to advance, which specialists need to be brought in, and how the company develops from architecture into real physical systems.What You’ll OwnYou will work directly with the Founder & CEO and have significant influence over:Systems architecture and technical directionPhysical validation and test strategyTechnical risk, failure modes, and engineering progressionIntegration across mechanical systems, robotics, controls, metrology, manufacturing science, and qualityTechnical review and engineering authorityDemonstrator and hardware-development strategyRecruitment of the founding engineering teamProgression toward aerospace-grade production capabilityWe are not looking for someone to simply agree with the existing architecture. We want someone capable of challenging assumptions, identifying what is missing, and stopping or redirecting work when the evidence does not support progression.Who We’re Looking ForStrong candidates will have meaningful experience turning difficult engineering into real hardware.Relevant backgrounds include:Aerospace • Defense • Space Systems • Advanced Manufacturing • Robotics • Manufacturing Automation • Systems Engineering • NPI / Industrialization • Hardware Integration • Test & Validation • QualificationWe are especially interested in engineers who have experience with complex multidisciplinary hardware, technical decision authority, physical validation, manufacturing, and taking systems from development toward production.You do not need to personally be the expert in every discipline. Knowing when specialist authority is required, and helping build the team around those gaps, is part of the role.This Is Not a Software CTO RoleSyntrex uses AI extensively as internal research and engineering infrastructure, but advanced physical technology is the product.We are not looking for an IT executive, SaaS leader, generic AI engineer, or digital-transformation specialist.This role is fundamentally about physical engineering and manufacturing systems.Stage, Location & CompensationThe role is remote at the current stage while Syntrex is focused on architecture, fundraising, technical review, and preparation for physical validation.Once financing closes and hardware development begins, this role will require substantial in-person involvement with the engineering team, testing, integration, and physical systems. It is not intended to remain permanently remote once active hardware development begins.Syntrex is currently preparing its pre-seed financing. Before financing, involvement may be structured around meaningful founding equity and an appropriate early-stage arrangement. Following financing, the intention is for this to become a full-time senior technical leadership role with highly competitive cash compensation plus equity.For the right person, this is an opportunity to help define the technical DNA of the company from the beginning rather than inherit it later.ConfidentialitySyntrex intentionally keeps implementation-level technical details out of public recruiting materials. Initial conversations will remain non-confidential, with deeper technical disclosure handled under appropriate confidentiality and IP protections where there is serious mutual interest.If you have spent your career turning difficult engineering into real hardware and want to help build an aerospace manufacturing company from the ground up, we would like to hear from you.