Small UAS Engine Engineer

Location: Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; in-office collaboration required. Travel is typically 20–25%, with possible surges up to 50%.

Company

hirify.global provides engineering and advanced technology solutions for intelligence and national security programs.

What you will do

• Provide propulsion engineering support for small piston engines used in UAS across development, production, testing, and sustainment.
• Support program managers, engineers, and Integrated Product Teams through engineering analysis, requirements traceability, documentation review, and issue tracking.
• Coordinate with prime contractors, UAS manufacturers, and engine vendors on designs, data packages, analyses, and compliance artifacts.
• Support ground and flight test planning and execution, including data reduction, performance monitoring, durability assessments, and anomaly documentation.
• Contribute to technical meetings, design reviews, airworthiness activities, readiness reviews, briefings, and action-item tracking.
• Support reliability and maintainability assessments, maintenance concepts, technical orders, parts obsolescence tracking, and sustainment planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in propulsion, mechanical systems, or related engineering roles, including exposure to small piston engines.
• Experience supporting engineering, testing, sustainment, development, integration, or operational activities.
• Ability to interpret engine specifications, test reports, engineering drawings, performance data, and other technical documentation.
• Experience with government program offices or defense acquisition environments and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Active DoD Secret clearance is required.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with 2-stroke, 4-stroke, or heavy-fuel aviation engines used in UAS.
• Hands-on ground or flight test experience, including test data analysis and anomaly investigation.
• Knowledge of UAS propulsion integration, airworthiness processes, and DoD airborne-system acquisition programs.
• Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI/SAP.

Culture & Benefits

• Benefits may include a 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending, disability coverage, and paid time off.
• Flexible work schedules may be available depending on program requirements.
• Professional training and development support career advancement.
• Work is performed in collaboration with government teams, contractors, test organizations, and defense program stakeholders.