Full-Time
Project Engineer
Updated on 9/3/2026
Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc.
51-200 employees
Aerospace design and electric aircraft development
Compensation Overview
$140k - $180k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
In Person
Bachelor's, Master's
 Engineering Management (1) |
|---|
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- Bachelor's degree in an engineering-related discipline.
- At least 3 years of prior leadership experience in technical lead, management, or similar roles.
- At least 7 years of experience in one or more aircraft engineering disciplines, including propulsion, avionics, software, structures, mechanical systems, or systems engineering.
- Strong technical understanding of unmanned aerial systems architectures.
- Experience with project management and tracking tools such as Microsoft Project, and exposure to engineering software such as MATLAB, Jama, and SolidWorks.
- Organizational skills and attention to detail sufficient to keep complex engineering deliverables aligned with program milestones.
- Communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills sufficient to present complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to quickly understand complex systems and communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Must be a U.S. person, defined as a citizen or green card holder.
- Serve as the primary technical lead for assigned programs, owning the project lifecycle from requirements gathering through production.
- Collaborate with Program Management to develop and execute integrated project plans and project schedules.
- Monitor and report project progress, including schedule, budget, and technical milestones, to leadership, customers, and key stakeholders.
- Drive issue resolution across disciplines by identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions for technical and project challenges and blockers.
- Support the development and review of technical requirements and specifications for components, systems, and subsystems to ensure they meet programmatic and customer needs.
- Coordinate day-to-day engineering activities and ensure integration and alignment across Systems, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing teams.
- Coordinate and lead design and technical reviews to ensure engineering solutions meet performance, quality, and safety standards.
- Create and maintain detailed documentation for designs, testing, and modifications.
- Collaborate with design engineers to manage Engineering Change Requests and maintain bill of materials accuracy.
- Interface with quality, supply chain, and operations to ensure build readiness.
- Support hardware development, test execution, and data collection for prototype systems.
- Identify and track engineering performance metrics.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, and identify, assess, and mitigate project risks.
- Mentor and guide junior team members.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Technical Management.
- Experience working with complex unmanned aerial systems.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Project.
- Experience with Earned Value Management System for tracking project performance against cost and schedule baselines.
- Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles or Root Cause Analysis methodologies such as 8D or Fishbone.
- Prior experience in a high-growth startup environment or a Skunkworks-style rapid prototyping lab.
ESAero designs and manufactures aerospace systems, focusing on cost-effective development of advanced concepts such as electric and hybrid propulsion, aircraft modifications, sub-scale demonstrators, and rapid prototyping. It delivers end-to-end development by serving as Prime Contractor and Integrator, handling design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing, and has led programs like NASA’s X-57 Maxwell. The company differentiates itself with hands-on, rapid system development, customized project plans, and an on-demand niche engineering team that emphasizes quality, cost, and schedule. Its goal is to help aviation and aerospace customers advance electric and other propulsion technologies while delivering reliable results on time and within budget.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
$40M
Headquarters
null
Founded
2003
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Amprius selected ESAero on October 14, 2025 for next-generation UAV battery integration.
- Red Cat expanded its ESAero partnership on June 6, 2025 to scale Black Widow production.
- AeroVironment said on March 16, 2026 ESAero adds accretive manufacturing capacity immediately.
What critics are saying
- ESAero now depends on AeroVironment’s integration execution after the March 2026 close.
- Defense demand concentration ties revenue to AV’s Pentagon programs and procurement cycles.
- AeroVironment can consolidate ESAero’s teams and facilities, erasing standalone career identity by 2027.
What makes Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. unique
- AV’s March 16, 2026 acquisition values ESAero’s AS9100 manufacturing at $200 million.
- ESAero combines UAS design, rapid prototyping, testing, and serialized production in 130,000 square feet.
- ESAero’s electric and hybrid propulsion expertise strengthens AV’s loitering munitions and advanced air mobility stack.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Life Insurance
Supplemental Coverage
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
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↑ 0%Paso Robles will get a new mayor, while 2 councilmembers face challengers. August 21, 2026 5:00 AM Gift Article This upcoming election cycle, Paso Robles voters will have the chance to elect a mayor and two City Council members. The race for mayor is wide open, featuring three candidates who have never served on the council. Meanwhile, two incumbent council members will face challengers in their bids for reelection. City Council candidates. Two Paso Robles city districts are on the ballot this November, and both incumbents are running to defend their seats. District 2. The District 2 seat has three candidates with their eyes on the prize. Incumbent Chris Bausch filed for reelection in July and has served on the City Council since 2022, after being unanimously appointed when the seat was vacated. Bausch became embroiled in controvery in 2024 when he was accused of harassing and spreading rumors about former city manager Ty Lewis, who filed a $22 million complaint with the city outlining the allegations. He was also at the center of a lawsuit filed by The Tribune, after he refused to turn over public records stored on his private devices related to Lewis' accusations, despite multiple requests under the California Public Records Act. Bausch did not respond to The Tribune's multiple requests for comment on why he's running, what his goals are and how he would answer voters' questions about the costly controversy. Bausch is being challenged by two candidates. Michael Massey, who filed to run in February, is vying for the District 2 seat with a campaign featuring four pillars: housing, industry, infrastructure and transparency. "I'm not a career politician, and I'm not interested in becoming one," Massey said in an April news release. "I'm a neighbor who cares about this community and is ready to do the work. That's the kind of representation District 2 deserves." Also running is Robert Simoni, who filed his application in March. Simoni, a soon-to-be retired financial systems administrator for San Luis Obispo's Empirical Systems Aerospace, has focused his campaign around smart growth, improving roads, fiscal responsibility and preserving open spaces. "It is a lot of work, so a lot of people shy away from doing it, but I'm up for the challenge," Simoni told The Tribune in May. "We love it here - love the community. We want to keep it a great place to live. That's kind of what I'm interested in doing as a City Council member." District 1. Incumbent Councilmember Kris Beal and former candidate Linda George are vying for the District 1 seat, having previously opposed each other in the 2024 election. Beal, who filed for reelection in January, has now served on the council for two years, focusing on issues like affordable housing for all income levels, parks and community spaces, jobs and economic diversity, pedestrian and traffic safety and helping residents navigate city government, her campaign website said. George, who filed for candidacy on July 13, is a longtime and vocal advocate when it comes to issues like paid parking, homelessness, and food truck ordinances among others, according to her campaign's Facebook page. "District 1, I am not running for me! I am running to represent you. Your daily issues. Tell me what's wrong. I will be available to the district right here," she posted on July 21. But George's name might not only sound familiar from a previous election cycle. In December 2024, she submitted a personal injury claim to the city for $500,000, calling for the termination of city manager Ty Lewis over alleged misconduct after he said she was one of several community members involved in an conspiracy to oust him from his position as the city's top administrator. Refuting Lewis' allegation, George claimed that instead, Lewis led a conspiracy to "sabotage" her campaign for City Council after she received 17 percent of votes for the District 1 seat, trailing behind Beal and former Councilmember Sharon Roden. Mayoral candidates. Three candidates are running for mayor, all of whom are fresh names to the scene. Resident William Britton is trying his hand for the city's top position, having declared his candidacy in April. Britton is a retired Air Force officer and former vice president for information technology at Cal Poly who retired in 2025 after 11 years working for the university. He has focused his campaign primarily on fixing roads and infrastructure, protecting public safety and first responders, and supporting economic development, education and workforce pathways. Opposing Britton is Faith Frankel, who filed for the race on July 15, according to Frankel's candidate paperwork. According to her campaign website, she hopes to become Paso Robles' first female mayor. Also being a doctor, the website said Frankel would bring the same calm, practical, people-first leadership to City Hall while focusing on preserving water, providing safe and clean neighborhoods and improving local roads, among other initiatives. Newest to the ballot is Chris Rogalla, a Paso Robles resident dedicated to fixing roads, investing in families and respecting taxpayers, according to an Aug. 8 Instagram post. "This campaign isn't about making Paso something it isn't. It's about taking better care of what we already have and putting the people who call Paso Robles home first. Residents first. Fiscally responsible. Future strong," his post said. The three candidates follow current Mayor John Hamon, who announced he was not seeking re-election. Hamon served as the city's mayor since 2023, being appointed after the unexpected death of longtime Mayor Steve Martin. "Paso Robles has a strong, strong future ahead, and I am confident the next generation of leaders will continue to build on the foundation that we've been working on and put down," Hamon said earlier in April. Environment August 12, 2026 11:34 AM August 11, 2026 12:50 PM The Tribune Libbey is the North County reporter for The Tribune, also covering wine, agriculture and tourism. She previously reported for New Times SLO after graduating with a master of public administration from the University of Utah in 2024. In her free time, you can find Libbey training for her first full marathon or watching reality TV with friends.
AeroVironment on Monday said it has acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) in a $200 million deal that adds manufacturing, design and
Amprius' high-power silicon batteries selected by ESAero to power next-generation UAVs. Amprius' SiCore(R) SA08 cell provides longer flights and increased payload capacity for UAV platforms FREMONT, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius" or the "Company") (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, today announced Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero), a leading producer of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms, chose the Amprius SiCore(R) SA08 cell for integration into battery packs powering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) supporting defense, security, logistics, and public safety applications. Amprius' high-power cell was selected by ESAero for its ability to significantly increase flight times and payload capacity, which are essential for UAV platforms operating in demanding environments. The SA08 cell is available in volume today, allowing ESAero to accelerate the development and integration of Amprius' cells into its UAVs. "Amprius offered the best combination of advanced battery technology, production readiness, and cost competitiveness to meet the demands of this program," said Andrew Gibson, CEO and President of ESAero. "Their silicon anode cells deliver the performance and reliability needed to accelerate our path from development to production while setting a new benchmark for what our battery packs can achieve for both our in-house and customer platforms. Amprius' cells have enabled ESAero to create and maintain industry leading Group I and Group II UAV endurance." "This collaboration highlights the momentum Amprius is building across the UAV space," said Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies. "By growing our production capacity through strategic partnerships, we're delivering customers high-performance silicon anode cells at scale and at a competitive price. This allows companies like ESAero to develop more capable battery packs for aircraft, flying farther, carrying more, and operating more efficiently in the field." Amprius' SiCore(R) SA08 battery cells have successfully completed formal qualification and are now integrated into ESAero's products. Building on this success, Amprius is gaining additional traction with other UAV partners, further solidifying its position as a leading solution for next-generation electric aviation platforms. For more information, please visit the Amprius investor relations website at ir.amprius.com. Amprius Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-energy and high-power lithium-ion batteries, producing the industry's highest-known energy density cells. The Company's commercially available SiCore(R) and SiMaxx(TM) batteries deliver up to 450 Wh/kg and 1,150 Wh/L, with third-party validation of 500Wh/kg and 1,300 Wh/L. The Company's corporate headquarters is in Fremont, California, where it maintains an R&D lab and a MWh scale manufacturing facility for the fabrication of silicon anodes and cells. To serve customer demand, Amprius entered into several agreements to secure over 1.8 GWh of contract manufacturing capacity. For additional information, please visit amprius.com. Also, see the Company's LinkedIn page. About Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) ESAero produces Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced aerospace technologies for commercial and military applications. As an established leader in the field, ESAero has been demonstrating for decades its core competencies designing and manufacturing innovative, reliable, and scalable aircraft systems, including power and battery management systems. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, ESAero provides vertically integrated AS9100 certified services in R&D, engineering, design for manufacturing, rapid prototyping, testing, and serialized production expanding in the thousands. With over 130,000 sq. ft., ESAero has the capacity, capability, and facilities to scale and accelerate manufacturing to support its partners and customers. For additional information, please visit www.esaero.com. This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "will" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the performance of Amprius' products, the availability of Amprius' products, the ability of Amprius to gain traction with additional UAV partners, the manufacturing capacity that Amprius is able to provide under the support of its contract manufacturers, and the benefits of Amprius' products to its customers. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Amprius' management and are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including Amprius' liquidity position; risks related to the rollout of Amprius' business and the timing of expected business milestones; the capacity and stability of Amprius' contract manufacturers; the ability of Amprius and its contract manufacturers to commercially produce high performing batteries; the effects of competition on Amprius' business; supply shortages in the materials necessary for the production of Amprius' products; and changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. More information on these risks and uncertainties that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the documents we filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), all of which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. There may be additional risks that Amprius does not presently know or that Amprius currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Amprius' expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Amprius' assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Amprius specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Media Zach Kadletz, Brenlyn Motlagh Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 [email protected] FREMONT, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius" or the "Company") (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, today announced the appointment of Ricardo C. Rodriguez as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately. As part of a planned transition and as previously disclosed, prior Company CFO Sandra Wallach is retiring and will support the Company in the short term. Rodriguez brings more than two decades of lea... FREMONT, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius" or the "Company") (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, today announced its schedule for October appearances and activities. The Battery Show North America and Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Date: October 6-9, 2025 Location: Huntington Place; Detroit, MI Event Details: Amprius President Tom Stepien will participate in two panel discussions during the ev... FREMONT, Calif.-( BUSINESS WIRE )-Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius" or the "Company") (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, today announced it has secured a purchase order totaling over $35 million for its SiCore(R) cells from a leading Unmanned Aerial Systems ("UAS") manufacturer. This follows a $15 million purchase order placed in February 2025, underscoring the accelerating adoption of Amprius' high energy density batteries. Produc...
Red Cat is partnering with aerospace engineering firm ESAero to help with "fast-tracked, customer-specific" products.
Red Cat Holdings, Inc. announces development partnership with aerospace engineering firm empirical systems aerospace, Inc.