Senior Jet Engine Design Engineer – Interceptor Drones

About Alta Ares Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. About the Role We are building next-generation interceptor drones and are looking for a Senior Jet Engine Design Engineer to lead the development of small-scale jet propulsion systems (12–25 kg thrust class), from concept to flight-ready hardware. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role in a fast-moving startup environment where speed and iteration matter more than lengthy upfront studies. Responsibilities: Design and develop new small jet engines (12–25 kg thrust range) in-house, optimized for very low production cost Own the aerodynamic design of turbine components, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost Design a large portion of the turbine for metal 3D printing (additive manufacturing), leveraging design-for-AM principles to reduce part count, weight, and cost Work closely with 3D printing operations to define printable geometries, tolerances, post-processing, and qualify parts for flight use Drive a rapid, fail-fast iteration process: build, test, learn, and redesign quickly rather than relying on long analytical phases before prototyping Integrate propulsion systems into airframes such as flying wings and other interceptor drone configurations, working with aerostructures and systems teams Apply and enforce design rules for operation in extreme environments (cold and hot climates, rain, humidity, icing conditions) to ensure engine reliability across the full opera