Founding Aerospace Engineer

About Aether

Aether is building low-cost, mass-producible cruise missiles for one of the most challenging and complex missions in modern warfare. The US is investing billions in cheap, attritable munitions, and we're building a capability the current systems can't deliver affordably.

The Role

We're looking for a founding aerospace engineer to own the airframe end to end: design it, build it, and fly it. You'll take our platform from prototype to a producible design, and shape the technical direction of the company as one of its first team members. This is a hands-on building role, not a simulation or paperwork role.

This role begins full-time at the close of our raise in early Q1 2027. Before close, we’d ask you to sign a conditional offer committing to join on that basis, with no work required until then.

What You'll Do

• Design and build the airframe, aerostructures, and flight systems for a jet-powered, expendable cruise missile
• Take designs from CAD to flying hardware, quickly and iteratively
• Own propulsion integration, control surfaces, aerodynamics, and flight testing
• Establish the path from prototype to a low-cost, manufacturable production design
• Help shape early technical and hiring decisions as a founding team member

What We're Looking For

• Experience designing and building UAVs, missiles, or aircraft, with real hands-on hardware work
• Strong grasp of aerostructures, propulsion integration, and flight dynamics
• Comfort with speed, ambiguity, and owning a domain end to end
• Excitement to build defense hardware that matters for national security
• BS, MS, or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Nice to Have

• Turbojet or small-propulsion experience
• Composites and rapid fabrication skills
• Flight-test or RC/UAV piloting background
• Prior early-stage or founding experience

Details

• Founding role with significant equity
• Competitive salary beginning on close of our raise (Q1 2027)
• On-site, San Francisco, CA
• Must be a US person (ITAR requirement)

Reach out: [email protected]