- Location
- San Francisco, CA, United States · Onsite
- Compensation
- $100k – $170k • 0.5% – 2.0%
- Employment
- Full-time
- Experience level
- MID (2–5 years exp)
- Specialization
- Aerospace Engineer, Wellfound
- Source
- Wellfound
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]