Head of Propulsion

Required Skills

Nice to have:

Requires 12+ years of experience in propulsion, electric drives, or powertrain engineering, with at least 5 years in airborne or safety-critical applications. Proven experience in delivering propulsion/powertrain development through testing, owning program plans, and leading senior technical teams. Experience establishing test capabilities, managing budgets, and stakeholder interfaces is essential. Preferred qualifications include a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant engineering field and experience with eVTOL or electric/hybrid electric aircraft propulsion.

Job description / Role Job Type Full Time Job Location Dubai, UAE Nationality Any Nationality Salary Not Specified Gender Not Specified Arabic Fluency Not Specified Job Function Engineering - Mechanical & Aeronautical Company Industry Aviation, Airlines & Aerospace We are recruiting for a Head of Propulsion to join a greenfield aerospace programme based in Dubai. This is a senior engineering leadership role with responsibility for building the propulsion function and delivering the powertrain from early development through testing and towards production. Working in partnership with the Chief Engineer, Propulsion, you will own the team, delivery plan, budget, test capability and supplier performance. While the Chief Engineer retains technical authority, you will ensure propulsion development is properly planned, resourced and delivered against programme objectives. This is a hands on leadership position requiring sufficient technical depth to challenge engineering decisions, assess powertrain solutions and identify technical and delivery risks. Key Responsibilities Build and lead the propulsion engineering team, recruiting and developing Principal and Senior specialists across electric drives and propulsor engineering. Own the propulsion delivery plan, including scope, sequencing, estimates, resources and integration with the wider aircraft programme. Establish and develop powertrain test capability, including dynamometer and drive testing, propulsor testing, instrumentation and safe high voltage and high power test environments. Maintain hands on technical involvement, including the ability to assess drive sizing and challenge engineering solutions. Manage supplier performance across motors, inverters and propulsors, including long lead components and delivery recovery. Own propulsion budgets, programme estimates and investment requirements for test facilities. Manage critical interfaces with Flight Control, Battery and Energy Storage, Electrical, Structures and Industrialisation. Ensure safe execution across propulsion build and test environments. Identify, communicate and escalate technical and programme delivery risks. Support the progression of propulsion systems from prototype development and ground testing towards production. Requirements: We are looking for an experienced propulsion or powertrain engineering leader with the technical depth and leadership experience required to build and deliver a propulsion function within a complex aerospace or safety critical programme. Essential Requirements 12+ years' experience in propulsion, electric drives or powertrain engineering. At least 5 years' experience within airborne or equivalent safety critical applications. Proven experience delivering propulsion or powertrain development through to physical hardware and completed rig or ground testing. Experience owning programme plans, schedules and engineering delivery. Proven experience recruiting, building and leading senior technical engineering teams. Experience establishing or significantly expanding powertrain or electric drive test capability. Knowledge of test facilities, instrumentation, high voltage systems and test safety. Strong hands on knowledge of powertrain architecture with the technical depth to assess and challenge engineering decisions. Experience managing suppliers of complex or long lead technical components. Experience managing budgets, estimates and engineering investment. Strong multidisciplinary stakeholder and interface management skills. Ability to work effectively alongside a separate Chief Engineer or technical authority. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline. Experience with eVTOL, electric or hybrid electric aircraft propulsion. Experience delivering greenfield aerospace or advanced engineering programmes. Experience building engineering teams, facilities or test capabilities from the ground up. Experience supporting the transition from prototype development through to production. About the Company We’re a small, tight-knit team of talent-hunters based in the City of Rebels, Nottingham, UK 🏹 What we do: We provide specialist contractors and build product development and go-to-market teams in the Software/SaaS, Data and IIoT markets. Who we do it for: Start-ups and scale-ups across the UK, Western Europe and the US. We’re called Rebel Recruiters for a reason. And not just because it sounds cool. It keeps us on our toes. Always going against the established grain. We know what it takes to get your most critical hires filled, all without the usual hassle you get with agencies. Trust. Urgency. Results. That’s the Rebel way Easy Apply