Propulsion and Power Systems Engineer

Please read the information in this job post thoroughly to understand exactly what is expected of potential candidates.
About the Company
Powerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform designed to move, protect, and sustain critical assets in high-consequence environments. The company combines advanced autonomy, manufacturing capability, operational expertise, and strategic acquisitions to support defense, national security, critical infrastructure, and commercial operations globally.
Mission
Our mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.
Why Join Powerus
Endurance is the number customers ask about first, and it is won in the propulsion and power system - in motor and propeller matching, pack design, wiring losses, and how much heat the airframe can carry away. As Powerus scales manufacturing in South Carolina, those choices stop being prototype decisions and become production ones. This role owns the energy path from cell to shaft across a growing family of aircraft. You will set the propulsion architecture, prove it on the bench and in flight, and carry it into a design that can be built repeatably and safely.
About the Role
Powerus is hiring a Propulsion and Power Systems Engineer to own electric propulsion and electrical power across our unmanned platforms. This position requires U.S. Person status, as the work involves access to export-controlled technical data. Your scope runs from motor, ESC, and propeller selection through battery and pack design, power distribution, and thermal management, with responsibility for the endurance and performance the vehicle actually delivers. You will work with airframe, hardware, GNC, manufacturing, and test engineering, and you will validate your own work on dynamometers, bench setups, and flight test.
Responsibilities
Define propulsion architecture and size motor, ESC, and propeller combinations against mission, endurance, and thrust requirementsDesign and specify battery packs, including cell selection, pack configuration, BMS integration, and charge and discharge behaviorDesign power distribution and conversion, covering redundancy, protection, wiring, and bus architecture for flight-critical loadsModel and measure vehicle-level energy budgets, and validate predicted endurance against flight dataOwn thermal management for propulsion and power electronics, from analysis through instrumented testingBuild and run bench, dynamometer, and environmental test campaigns to characterize efficiency, margin, and failure behaviorDefine battery safety, handling, transport, and abuse-response practices with manufacturing and operationsWork with manufacturing and supply chain on qualification, sourcing alternates, and design for repeatable build
Qualifications
Must be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Rock Hill, SCDegree in electrical, mechanical, or aerospace engineering, or equivalent practical experienceExperience with electric propulsion or electric powertrain systems on aircraft, vehicles, robotics, or comparable hardwareWorking knowledge of lithium battery systems, including pack design considerations, BMS behavior, and safety practicesFamiliarity with power electronics and power distribution design, including protection and thermal limitsHands-on test experience - instrumenting hardware, capturing data, and drawing conclusions from itU. xzbcwsv S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)); this role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled technical data
Preferred Skills
UAV or eVTOL propulsion experience, including propeller and motor matchingExperience taking a battery pack or power system from prototype into productionThermal modeling or CFD experience applied to electronics or propulsion coolingFamiliarity with UN 38.3, transport, and other battery certification or compliance requirementsExperience with high-voltage or high-current design practice and safe test proceduresExposure to alternative power sources such as hybrid, generator, or fuel cell systems
Equal Opportunity Statement
Powerus is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and mission-driven workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.