Trainee Powertrain Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Title: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Powertrain Engineer
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Winchester, Virginia & Sterling, Virginia   
FLSA: Exempt

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don't just believe in the power of people-we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we've earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart-those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
As a founding Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Powertrain Engineer, you will be responsible for understanding and correlating hybrid fuel cell powertrain performance to flight conditions, including operation in extreme environments. You will bring the tools and technical insight needed to optimize system efficiency-reducing the energy required for ground-based hydrogen production while extending fuel cell endurance and in-flight capability.

We are seeking an engineer who is hungry, humble, and smart-someone who is driven to push the boundaries of performance and efficiency, collaborates openly across disciplines, and applies rigorous, data-driven thinking to complex system challenges. Your work will directly influence how our systems integrate into defense, public safety, and commercial sectors, ensuring that Heven AeroTech remains the gold standard for rugged, high-performance autonomous systems.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Model hybrid powertrain topologies, determining the optimal balance between fuel cell power output and energy storage (battery) requirements.
• Develop procedures to intake field data from hydrogen production and UAS systems to understand performance and durability under normal to extreme conditions.
• Collaborate with software teams to develop control strategies to optimize fuel consumption, stack longevity, and transient response.
• Continuously evaluate practices using data-driven decision-making and lead program closure activities.

 Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• A Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrochemical or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Proven experience in low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell, electrolyzers systems, or equivalent.
• Understanding of using performance data modeling from electrochemical systems.
• Ability to translate modeling to control strategies.
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with a range of engineering disciplines.
• Ability to travel between sites in Virginia and Washington State.
• Ability to obtain a DOD Secret clearance. Must be a "U.S. Person" (citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) per ITAR/EAR requirements.

Preferred:

• Ability to use machine learning to characterize and optimize electrochemical systems.
• Experience with digital twins.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing environments for validating powertrain control logic.
• Proficiency in tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, or Ansys for powertrain performance modeling.
• Experience with lithium-ion batteries.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in a combination of office, laboratory, and field environments, including production facilities and outdoor test sites.
• Ability to sit for extended periods while working on computers, modeling tools, and data analysis, as well as stand and walk for extended periods during testing and site visits.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull equipment and materials up to 25 pounds, and up to 40 pounds occasionally with assistance.
• Ability to use hands and fingers to handle equipment, connect instrumentation, and support test setup activities requiring fine motor skills.
• Ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, gloves, and hearing protection when working in laboratory or field environments.
• Ability to work safely around hydrogen systems, electrical systems, and mechanical equipment in accordance with established safety protocols.
• Ability to operate in environments that may include moderate noise, moving mechanical parts, temperature variations, and outdoor weather conditions, including extreme environments as required for testing.
• Ability to visually inspect test setups, instrumentation, and system components, as well as read and interpret technical data and computer displays (including close vision and depth perception).
• Ability to access and navigate test and production areas, which may include climbing stairs, ladders, or platforms.
• Ability to travel between sites and support on-site testing, including occasional extended hours or non-standard schedules during critical test events or program milestones.

Benefits Overview: 
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.