What Baker Engineering LLC. does

Baker Engineering LLC is a precision engineering and manufacturing firm founded in 1965 in Spring Lake, Michigan, and now operating as a 100% Tribally-owned SBA 8(a) small business under the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) following its 2018 acquisition by Waséyabek Development Company LLC. The company specializes in custom power and propulsion systems with deep expertise in opposed-piston engines, rotary engines, heavy fuel combustion systems, and compact fuel injection, anchored by proprietary subsystems including the Micro CI fuel injection system (up to 1,000 bar, 28cc–400cc per chamber), a 2.7 lb three-stage lightweight dry sump oil system, and the Baker Heavy Fuel Rotary Demonstrator that has been flight-tested at 34 hp on the RQ-23A Tigershark UAS. Engineered solutions for defense customers include a 12 kW opposed-piston APU integrated into the Stryker front sponson, plus precision CNC machining of aerospace and ground vehicle components under AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, ITAR, CMMC 2.0 Level 2, and NIST 800-171 certifications.

The company operates two Michigan facilities — a Power & Propulsion Center of Excellence in Nunica and a Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Muskegon — and runs four business lines: U.S. DoD SBIR contract R&D (Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, plus commercial primes such as AM General); custom engineering and prototyping services; the PRO/CAM sub-brand of automotive performance products (billet mechanical fuel pumps, fuel pressure regulators, LSX cylinder heads); and engine dynamometer/chassis dyno tuning services for GM, Ford, and Dodge platforms. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise field sales via direct RFQ engagement for government work and an e-commerce storefront for consumer performance parts.

Baker Engineering has managed $32M+ in portfolio project value across 50+ completed government contracts and 30+ years of federal contracting, though specific annual revenue is not disclosed and the firm remains constrained by SBA 8(a) size standards. Recent strategic activity (2021–2024) has emphasized unmanned aerial propulsion integration, a hybrid-electric HUMVEE concept demonstration, retail launch of the Billet LS cylinder head, and an HP Tuners aftermarket software authorization, indicating measured diversification beyond legacy SBIR work.

Name

Baker Engineering LLC.

Legal name

Baker Engineering, LLC

Website

https://bakerengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Baker Engineering LLC is a Tribally-owned SBA 8(a) precision engineering firm that designs and manufactures custom power and propulsion systems — including opposed-piston, rotary, and heavy-fuel engines — for the U.S. Department of Defense, defense primes like AM General, and automotive performance customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Power and Propulsion Engineering Services

NAICS

Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (33631)

SIC

Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Engine Modules & Hot-Section Components (Compressors/Turbines/Combustors) (IMABADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Engine Components & Subsystems Manufacturing (Blocks/Heads/Valvetrain/Pistons) (IMACAHAB)

Keywords

• Defense engineering services
• SBIR contract research
• Precision CNC machining
• Heavy fuel engine development
• Automotive performance tuning

Headquarters

HQ city

Nunica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. U.S. Government SBIR Contracts: Research and development contracts through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program with U.S. Department of Defense including Army, Navy, Air Force, and DARPA for advanced engine and propulsion system development.
2. Custom Engineering Services: Custom engineering solutions including R&D, prototype manufacturing, testing, and production for defense and commercial customers. Full in-house capabilities from concept through testing to short-run and long-run production.
3. Automotive Performance Products: Sale of performance engine components and parts through e-commerce storefront including engines, fuel systems, accessories, and tuning services for street, drag race, marine, and circle track applications.
4. Engine Dyno and Tuning Services: Engine dynamometer testing up to 1500 HP and all-wheel drive chassis dyno testing up to 2500 HP, software tuning using HP Tuner and Tunercat for GM, Ford, and Dodge vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Baker Engineering LLC provides custom engineering, prototyping, and low-to-high-volume manufacturing for advanced power and propulsion systems — including opposed-piston engines, heavy-fuel rotary engines, and micro CI fuel injection systems — primarily under U.S. DoD SBIR contracts. The firm also produces PRO/CAM-branded billet performance parts (mechanical fuel pumps, fuel pressure regulators, LSX cylinder heads) and offers engine dynamometer testing up to 1500 HP, all-wheel-drive chassis dyno tuning up to 2500 HP, and precision multi-axis CNC machining for aerospace and defense customers.

Product overview

Baker Engineering LLC is a precision engineering and manufacturing company offering a portfolio of engine products, performance parts, and technical services. The core product lines include heavy fuel rotary engines, opposed piston engines, and fuel injection systems developed primarily for defense and aerospace applications. The PRO/CAM sub-brand encompasses performance products including billet mechanical fuel pumps, fuel pressure regulators, and LSX cylinder heads for automotive performance markets. Services include custom engine building, precision CNC machining, late model tuning with dynamometer testing up to 2500 Hp, and full R&D contract services. The company operates two centers in Michigan—a Power & Propulsion Center of Excellence in Nunica and a Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Muskegon—supporting both DoD contracts and commercial customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PRO/CAM: Performance product line including Billet Mechanical Fuel Pump, Fuel Pressure Regulator, and Billet LSX Cylinder Head for performance and defense applications.

Products and services

• PRO/CAM Billet Mechanical Fuel Pump Redesigned billet mechanical fuel pump in the PRO/CAM performance product line, designed for high-performance engine applications and sold direct via shop.bakerengineering.com.
• PRO/CAM Fuel Pressure Regulator Fuel pressure regulator in the PRO/CAM performance product line, sold direct to consumers and performance shops for high-performance engine applications.
• Baker Engineering Billet LSX Cylinder Head Billet cylinder head for LSX performance applications, part of the PRO/CAM product line; production-released for retail in 2024 after setting the 1/8 mile speed and ET record for LS engines.
• Opposed Piston Engine Two-stroke turbo-supercharged opposed piston diesel engine architecture delivering higher thermal efficiency than comparable four-stroke diesels, with multiple power takeoff locations supporting integration of generators, fuel pump drives, and dry-sump lubrication; developed for military vehicle APU applications including Stryker and M1 Abrams platforms.
• Baker Heavy Fuel Rotary Engine Heavy fuel rotary engine with bespoke liquid cooled housing and air cooled rotor, designed for unmanned aerial systems and defense applications requiring power-dense, lightweight power sources operable on JP-8/F-24.
• Baker Heavy Fuel Rotary Demonstrator (BHFRD) Turbocharged direct injected heavy fuel rotary engine integrating Baker's SBIR-developed micro high pressure fuel pump, compact common rail injectors, integrated pump drive, compact three-stage oil pump, lightweight turbocharger, and advanced coatings; demonstrated 34 hp with dry sump and liquid cooling in flight tests on the RQ-23A Tigershark UAS.
• Micro CI Fuel Injection System Compact common rail fuel system comprising a solenoid-actuated Micro CI injector (optimized for 2–35 hp per combustion chamber), Micro CI pump (operable up to 1000 bar fuel pressure and 7500 cycles/min), passively regulated common fuel rail, and engine-integrated pump drive; demonstrated on engines from 28 cc to 400 cc per combustion chamber.
• Light Weight Dry Sump Oil System Compact 3-stage gerotor-style oil pump with integrated pressure regulator, oil filter, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and drive pulley; full assembly weighs 2.7 lb with filter, sensor, fittings, and drive pulley, supporting oil-lubricated turbocharger and fuel pump drive applications.
• Custom Engine Building Service Design, engineering, and build of world record-setting, championship-winning engines for high-performance applications including street, strip, and track use, across late-model GM, Ford, Mopar, and rotary platforms; targeted at racing teams, performance shops, and automotive enthusiasts.
• Late Model Tuning and Dyno Testing Service Performance vehicle tuning using HP Tuner and Tunercat software for GM, Ford, and Dodge vehicles, accompanied by engine dynamometer testing up to 1500 HP and all-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer testing up to 2500 HP.
• Precision CNC Machining Service Multi-axis CNC machining including 5-axis milling and dual-spindle turning centers with live tooling for small-to-mid-size complex components with tight tolerances; materials include aluminum, titanium, steels, Inconel, magnesium, and zinc; operated under AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 for aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing customers.
• Research and Development Engineering Service Full-lifecycle R&D from initial concept through detailed product design, analysis, prototype manufacturing, prototype assembly, and testing, with project teams led by hands-on engineers through to testing.
• SBIR Contract Research and Development Service Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract R&D services for DoD customers including Army/TARDEC, Air Force Research Laboratory, Navy, and DARPA; 40+ SBIR contracts completed over the past 25 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 kW sustained output demonstrated from 0.4L opposed piston engine for Stryker APU application
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Waséyabek Development Company LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Baker Engineering was purchased by Waséyabek Development Company LLC in 2018. Baker Engineering is a 100% tribally-owned, Native American SBA 8(a) small business. This ownership structure provides unique federal contracting advantages and is dedicated to serving the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) membership and community.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GE Aerospace: Premier aerospace engine manufacturer with extensive military propulsion programs. Comparable broad incumbent in defense engine technology, though at vastly larger scale.
• Continental Aerospace Technologies: Established manufacturer of certified piston aircraft engines and a broad aerospace propulsion portfolio. Comparable as a Tier-1 aerospace engine supplier with piston-engine heritage overlapping Baker's UAS propulsion focus.
• Pratt & Whitney: Major aerospace propulsion OEM with broad military engine portfolio. Comparable as a defense propulsion incumbent, though orders of magnitude larger in scale than Baker.
• Williams International: Developer of small turbofan and turbojet engines powering cruise missiles and tactical UAS. Comparable to Baker's heavy-fuel rotary work for unmanned systems and small military platforms.

Direct peers

• LiquidPiston: Developer of the X-Engine rotary architecture for heavy-fuel, small-displacement military and commercial applications. Closely comparable to Baker's heavy fuel rotary and opposed-piston IP targeting compact defense power and propulsion.
• Hirth Motors: Manufacturer of small 2-stroke aircraft engines widely used in light UAS and powered parachutes. Comparable to Baker's small-displacement engine work for unmanned and tactical applications.
• Simonini: Italian manufacturer of mini 2-stroke engines for light UAS and paramotors. Comparable to Baker's small-engine and UAS propulsion niche.
• Achates Power: Pioneer in opposed-piston 2-stroke diesel engine technology for military and commercial vehicles. Directly comparable to Baker's opposed-piston APU work, including Stryker APU development and heavy-duty diesel efficiency focus.
• Northwest UAV Propulsion: Specializes in small heavy-fuel engines for tactical unmanned aircraft. Closely comparable niche focus on compact, multi-fuel propulsion for defense UAS.
• Mistral Engines: Developer of small two-stroke engines for tactical UAS and military applications. Comparable heavy-fuel/small-displacement defense engine focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bakerengineeringllc
• Instagraminstagram.com/bakerengineering

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Baker Engineering LLC.