Hybridization and Powertrain Engineer (m/f/d)
NEX Aero GmbH HQ, NEX Aero GmbH Office
Full-time
Permanent employee
About the role
NEX Aero is looking for a Hybridization and Powertrain Engineer to design, develop, integrate, and test hybrid-electric propulsion systems for our next-generation heavy-duty UAV platform. You will take ownership of the hybrid powertrain from initial architecture through flight-ready deployment, with a focus on combustion-engine-based serial hybrid systems — range-extender (REX) architectures in which an internal combustion engine drives a generator to supply electrical power to the aircraft's electric propulsion system.
Your responsibilities
- Design and develop serial hybrid-electric powertrain architectures (range-extender configurations), combining combustion engines, generators, and power electronics
- Own hybrid powertrain functionality end to end, from concept and system architecture through flight-ready integration and deployment
- Define and validate combustion engine integration requirements for aerospace use, including thermal management, vibration isolation, fuel system, and exhaust management
- Model and simulate serial hybrid powertrain performance — fuel consumption, power management strategy, thermal behavior, and weight/energy trade-offs
- Specify and integrate generator sets, power electronics, and battery systems together with the electric propulsion system
- Support component- and system-level testing, including engine test cell, hardware-in-the-loop (HiL), ground and flight test campaigns
- Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, electrical, structures, and systems engineering teams to integrate the hybrid powertrain into the overall aircraft system
- Support certification activities and ensure compliance with relevant aviation and product standards
Your profile
- Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Automotive, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- Proven hands-on experience with combustion-engine-based hybrid powertrain systems — ideally serial hybrid / range-extender (REX) architectures — from the automotive or aviation industry
- Solid understanding of internal combustion engines, generator integration, and power electronics in a hybrid powertrain context
- Experience with powertrain simulation and modeling tools (e.g., GT-Power, Simulink, AVL Cruise, or similar)
- Familiarity with the thermal management, vibration, and integration challenges of combustion engines in weight- and space-constrained platforms
- Background in testing and validating hybrid powertrain systems (engine test cell, HiL, or flight test)
- Experience with aviation certification standards (e.g., CS-23/25, CS-E) is a plus