Aerospace Engineer
Design ultralight airframes, run CFD and structural analyses, and help bring zero-emission flight to the everyday man.
About the role
OpenPPG is an innovative company specializing in electric paramotors and other upcoming electric ultralight aircraft, committed to advancing aviation with lightweight, efficient, and affordable flight solutions for the everyday man. The Aerospace Engineer will contribute to the product design, structural engineering, CFD simulation, and manufacturing of affordable ultralight aircraft, ensuring high performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in our zero-emission flight technologies. This role is based in Canfield, OH, but is flexible to remote work and is open to engineers at all levels with a passion for aerospace innovation and electric propulsion.
What you'll do
- Lead or support product design for ultralight aircraft components, including frames, propulsion systems, and aerodynamic structures, with a focus on lightweight, affordable solutions.
- Perform structural engineering analyses, including stress, fatigue, and vibration assessments for paramotor frames and aircraft assemblies.
- Conduct CFD simulations to optimize aerodynamics, thrust efficiency, and flight performance in electric ultralight aircraft.
- Collaborate on manufacturing processes, including material selection, prototyping, and production scaling for cost-effective, high-reliability components like brushless motors and battery integrations.
- Contribute to system integration, testing, and validation activities, flight simulations, and regulatory compliance for ultralight aircraft.
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's or graduate degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field / equivalent experience (degree not required).
- 2+ years of industry experience in aerospace design or related areas.
- Solid fundamentals in aerodynamics, structural analysis, and manufacturing principles.
- Hands-on experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA, Fusion 360) for product design.
- Proficiency in structural engineering software (ANSYS, NASTRAN) and CFD tools (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM).
- Strong problem-solving skills for debugging and optimizing aircraft systems.
Preferred qualifications
Not a checklist — we're looking for strong candidates, not perfect ones.
- Experience with ultralight or experimental aircraft design, including electric propulsion systems.
- Knowledge of composite materials, additive manufacturing, and cost-reduction techniques for affordable aviation.
- Familiarity with simulation tools for flight dynamics and control systems.
- Understanding of aerospace regulations such as FAA Part 103 for ultralight vehicles.
- Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for simulation scripting.
- Experience in open-source hardware or software projects relevant to aviation.
Compensation & benefits
$100,000 – $200,000 + equity + benefits
Level, job-related skills, and experience will determine compensation.
How to apply
Candidates must submit a resume/CV (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, or RTF formats). A portfolio of past projects is appreciated but not required.
Send materials to careers@openppg.com