Founding Aerospace Engineer Aether - 3.8 San Francisco, CA Job Details Full-time $120,000 - $150,000 a year 6 hours ago Qualifications Rapid prototyping Fabrication Production design CAD Hiring Bachelor's degree Full Job Description 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. 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 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:

Pay:

$120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year Application Question(s): This role begins full-time at the close of our raise, targeted for 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's your current situation, and would you be able to commit to that?

Education:

Bachelor's (Preferred) Ability to

Relocate:

San Francisco, CA 94114: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

In person