Design & Test Airframe

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Title: Senior Aeronautical Engineer – VTOL Drone Startup (U.S. Citizens Only) Location: Hybrid / San Antonio, TX (Preferred) Commitment: Full-time Contract | Equity + Milestone Bonuses Available Overview: Red Horse Dynamics is a veteran-founded defense tech startup building autonomous heavy-lift drones for contested logistics. We’re seeking a Senior Aeronautical Engineer to lead aerodynamic design, propulsion integration, and prototype development of our Group 3 tiltrotor drone. You’ll work directly with former Special Operations veterans, leading engineers, and strategic partners to develop and flight-test a long-range VTOL platform. Responsibilities: Design and simulate blended/fixed-wing airframes using carbon fiber & additive manufacturing Optimize aerodynamics via CFD tools like ANSYS or STAR-CCM+ Evaluate hybrid-electric and turbine propulsion systems (U.S.-sourced only) Integrate tiltrotor VTOL systems and autonomous transition logic Support EO/IR, LiDAR, and GPS-denied navigation sensor integration Lead prototyping, testing, and FAA experimental approvals Mentor junior engineers, coordinate with U.S. vendors, and contribute to SBIR proposals Required: 5–10 years experience in UAV/UAS or defense aerospace Proficiency with SolidWorks, CFD tools, and propulsion system integration Deep familiarity with VTOL architectures (tiltrotor, DEP, etc.) Experience with NDAA/ITAR-compliant parts & MIL-STD-810 testing U.S. Citizenship or Green Card (no exceptions – SBIR eligibility required) Bonus: A&P Certificate Familiarity with ROS, PX4, or SLAM-based autonomy Why Us: Help build the next game-changing drone platform for national security Competitive pay + equity + 40% milestone bonuses Join a mission-first team shaping the future of autonomous logistics

Keyword: Lead Development

Aerospace Aerospace Engineering Aerodynamic Analysis ANSYS CFD Analysis Drone