---
title: 'Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer at Odys Aviation'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-propulsion-integration-engineer-odys-aviation-long-beach-fmmke0h3bync'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-08'
---

# Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer at Odys Aviation

- **Company:** Odys Aviation
- **Location:** Long Beach, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/odys-aviation/03f3d4c0-3d89-4df6-9241-0dd292dd0f6c

## Job description

## About Odys

At Odys, we’re mobilizing power, with Hybrid Power Systems developed for aerospace and in-demand everywhere. It’s the kind of mission diversity that demands a fresh way of thinking. We began with an early bet on hybrid, when the mobility industry was focused on batteries. We designed, tested, and validated our first 1 MW high-speed generator in 12 months. And then we pushed further, developing systems with greater power density in less time. Today, our Hybrid Power Systems offer outputs ranging from 20 kW to 4 MW, with applications in the air or on the ground. One of those applications is Laila, an unmanned drone designed for critical logistics and defense missions. With its 100 kW-class onboard Hybrid Power System, Laila can support medical cold-chain transport or serve as an aerial platform for counter-UAS measures. The market interest has been overwhelming: Over 30 inbound requests from leading US and global manufacturers, and 14+ DoD contracts. Our team comes from deep tech and aerospace, with backgrounds spanning drone and aircraft development, high-volume production, and electrified mobility. We operate with urgency and ownership at every level. We validated high-speed generator technology faster than our peers, not because we skipped steps, but because we've been doing this long enough to know which ones matter most. Creating the future of power, in the air and on the ground, is a challenge we’ve been training our entire lives for. If that sounds like you, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

## About The Role

Odys Aviation is looking for a Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer to own the integration of our hybrid-electric propulsion system, with an immediate focus on the Laila UAV program. The role covers electric propulsion motors and controllers, high-voltage distribution and harnesses, gensets, batteries, and associated electrical, mechanical, thermal and control interfaces. This is a hands-on senior technical role. You will act as the aircraft-level technical authority for propulsion integration and the primary focal point for external suppliers and the internal Power Systems team.

## Responsibilities

- Own the architecture, integration requirements and technical integrity of the hybrid-electric propulsion system at aircraft level.
- Lead integration of propulsion motors, controllers, gensets, batteries, HV distribution, harnesses and supporting systems.
- Define and manage mechanical, electrical, thermal and control interfaces between propulsion subsystems and the aircraft.
- Ensure integrated performance, power, mass, safety, reliability and maintainability requirements are achieved.
- Act as the principal technical interface for external propulsion suppliers and the internal Power Systems team.
- Lead integration trade studies, design reviews and resolution of system-level technical issues.
- Own propulsion integration verification and coordinate bench, ground and flight-test activities.
- Work closely with Systems Engineering, Flight Controls, Structures, Manufacturing, Safety, Airworthiness and Flight Test.
- Represent propulsion integration in aircraft-level reviews and drive technical readiness against program milestones.

## Requirements

- B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
- 8+ years of relevant propulsion or electrical power systems experience, including technical ownership of complex integrated systems.
- Strong fundamentals in electric propulsion, power electronics, batteries, generators and high-voltage distribution.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex mechanical, electrical, thermal and control system interfaces.
- Experience taking hardware from requirements and design through aircraft integration, verification and test.
- Practical understanding of electrical protection, high-voltage safety, fault management and system reliability.
- Experience leading technical supplier interfaces and coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Hands-on mindset and ability to make sound technical decisions in a fast-moving development environment.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Previous Propulsion Integration Lead, Responsible Engineer or comparable technical leadership experience.
- Hybrid-electric aircraft or advanced UAV propulsion experience.
- Experience with propulsion integration benches, ground testing and flight-test support.
- Familiarity with aerospace system safety, EMI/EMC and airworthiness requirements.
- Clean-sheet aircraft and/or aerospace startup experience.
- Experience with requirements, interface documentation and configuration management tools.

## About Odys Aviation

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Odys Aviation builds long-range, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for defense, logistics, and civil applications, enabling runway-independent operations with significant payload and endurance.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Long Beach, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Tadeh Avetian (Co‑Founder and Advisor); other founders not publicly listed (the team includes experts from GoogleX, Hyperloop, Volvo, and Fisker Automotive)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace & Aviation, Defense, Logistics
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense, commercial cargo operators, humanitarian/NGOs, regional airlines (B2B, Government, Enterprise)
- **Mission**: “To connect people and goods in ways that truly solve real-world challenges and open new possibilities for the future of flight.”

## Products & Services
- **Laila**: Tactical VTOL drone with a 450‑mile range, 130‑lb payload, and multi‑hour endurance. Designed for defense, logistics, and emergency medical transport. Flies today.
- **Alta**: Larger VTOL cargo aircraft with a 1,200‑mile range, 3,500‑lb capacity, and dual flexible cargo capability. Aimed at regional logistics and passenger travel. Certification following Laila.
- Both platforms use **hybrid‑electric propulsion** and a patented **flap‑based thrust vectoring** system (replaces tilt rotors for simpler certification).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Total Funding**: $43.6 million (across pre‑seed, seed, and Series A rounds)
  - Pre‑Seed (Jul 2021): $3.5M from 7 investors
  - Seed (Feb 2022): $12.4M from 12 investors (after Y Combinator)
  - Series A (Nov 2025): $26M led by Nova Threshold with 3 investors
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Y Combinator, Nova Threshold, U.S. Department of Defense (Phase II contract), Sultanate of Oman (2026 evaluation program)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount: 44 employees (+61.3% year‑over-year as of mid‑2026)
  - Over $9 billion in Letters of Intent and pre‑orders
  - Completed first full‑scale Laila prototype flight campaign and full transition flight test
  - First test of Alta’s 1MW generator, a hybrid‑electric propulsion breakthrough
  - 13 active job postings; quarterly hiring trend +62.5%

## Competitive Advantages
- **Flap‑based thrust vectoring** – simpler, more certifiable than tilt‑rotor designs while enabling VTOL and efficient cruise.
- **Hybrid‑electric propulsion** – delivers superior range, payload, and endurance compared to pure electric VTOL aircraft.
- **Dual‑use strategy** – serves both military and commercial markets from a single platform, accelerating adoption and funding.
- **Early flight‑proven hardware** – Laila is flying today; full transition flight validated, reducing certification risk.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale full‑scale flight testing and manufacturing readiness.
- Advance certification programs for both Laila and Alta.
- Expand international launch operations (e.g., Oman partnership).
- Continue winning DoD contracts and penetrating defense/logistics verticals.
- Build engineering team (propulsion, avionics, robotics, mission systems).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Values**: Emphasize “Details Matter”, “Build With Tenacity”, “Support The Team”, “Keep Your Promises”, and “Balance Audacity With Pragmatism”. Safety is the north star.
- **Team**: Composed of experienced aerospace engineers from Airbus, SpaceX, Boeing, and other top programs; described as “not average” with a focus on first‑principles engineering.
- **Work Environment**: Collaborative office and hangar spaces in Long Beach built for productivity and wellbeing. On‑site presence expected (no explicit remote policy advertised). Regular company events and team social hours.
- **Perks**: Competitive salaries, generous stock options, comprehensive health & wellness benefits. Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge aircraft from concept through certification and production.
- **Growth**: Rapidly scaling company with significant room for impact; employees can shape products and processes early.

## Sources
1. [odysaviation.com](https://www.odysaviation.com/) – Company homepage, product details, mission
2. [odysaviation.com/careers](https://www.odysaviation.com/careers) – Careers page, values, culture, benefits
3. [odysaviation.com/about](https://www.odysaviation.com/about) – Timeline, leadership team, funding milestones, DoD contracts
4. [linkedin.com/company/odys-aviation](https://www.linkedin.com/company/odys-aviation) – Headcount growth, funding total, employee breakdown, open roles
5. [ycombinator.com/companies/odys-aviation](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/odys-aviation) – Y Combinator profile, founder background, early contracts

## Other roles at Odys Aviation

- [Office Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/office-manager-odys-aviation-long-beach-skzzsbwmrxfd) — Long Beach, CA
- [Sr. Program Manager - Hybrid Power & Aircraft](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-program-manager-hybrid-power-aircraft-odys-aviation-long-beach-495v1z95pw68) — Long Beach, CA
- [Electrical Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-technician-odys-aviation-long-beach-q934v5q577c1) — Long Beach, CA
- [Mechanical Technician - Airframe](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-technician-airframe-odys-aviation-long-beach-fm6mmt6j01ht) — Long Beach, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Design Engineer [Propulsion]](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-design-engineer-propulsion-odys-aviation-long-beach-3fk3ew10v7mg) — Long Beach, CA
- [Composite Technician - Airframe](https://feeny.ai/job/composite-technician-airframe-odys-aviation-long-beach-ymyghw94fb1x) — Long Beach, CA
- [Mechanical Engineering Intern/Co-Op [Propulsion]](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineering-intern-co-op-propulsion-odys-aviation-long-beach-89vsba1eprcc) — Long Beach, CA
- [Mechanical Technician - Powerplant](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-technician-powerplant-odys-aviation-long-beach-mc5xhvtsreet) — Long Beach, CA
- [Staff Propulsion Controls & Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-propulsion-controls-software-engineer-odys-aviation-long-beach-ccef4qmsfd0v) — Long Beach, CA
- [Mission Systems Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-systems-integration-engineer-odys-aviation-long-beach-nn4n1tjnc0sp) — Long Beach, CA