AERODYNAMICS ENGINEER JOB DESCRIPTION

As the Aerodynamics Engineer, you generate the aerodynamic force and moment databases, CFD analyses, and test-validated models that underpin every flight clearance decision made by a program's engineering authority. You work within a multidisciplinary flight sciences team, collaborating directly with flight test, GN&C, and structural loads engineers to ensure aerodynamic data quality meets certification and program requirements.

Career Impact: Sustained work on flight vehicle programs spanning subsonic through hypersonic regimes builds the domain depth that advances engineers toward Lead or Chief Aerodynamicist roles within defense and commercial aerospace programs.

Business Impact: The aerodynamic databases and wind tunnel datasets you produce directly determine whether a vehicle receives flight clearance on schedule, making your outputs one of the most schedule-critical technical deliverables in any aircraft or launch vehicle program.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to aerothermodynamic environments, 6-DOF simulation integration, and DoD or FAA certification processes significantly expands market value and opens pathways into flight sciences management or principal engineer tracks.

• Design and develop aerodynamic force and moment databases for use in six-degree-of-freedom simulation and trajectory analysis.
• Perform CFD analyses across relevant flight regimes, including geometry preparation, grid generation, solver execution, and post-processing.
• Plan and support wind tunnel test campaigns, including data acquisition, reduction, flight corrections, and final database release.
• Validate aerodynamic models against wind tunnel and flight test data, assessing design modification impacts on air vehicle performance.
• Develop and maintain tools and automated workflows to improve the efficiency and consistency of aerodynamic analyses.
• Generate substantiation data reports and airworthiness artifacts required to support flight clearances and compliance reviews.
• Collaborate with flight test, flight controls, structures, and GN&C disciplines to ensure aerodynamic data meets program and certification requirements.
• Support configuration trade studies evaluating the effects of weight, propulsion, stability, and payload on mission performance.

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of aerodynamics engineering experience, with a focus on flight vehicle analysis and testing.
• Demonstrated experience developing aerodynamic databases for trajectory, GN&C, or structural loads applications.
• Proficiency in CFD methods, including grid generation using structured or unstructured approaches and solver operation for external aerodynamic flows.
• Experience supporting wind tunnel testing, including data reduction, transformation techniques, and database generation.
• Experience with flight test data analysis, parameter identification, or aerodynamic model validation.
• Strong programming ability in at least one scripting language for data processing, analysis automation, and visualization.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance or higher.

• Graduate-level academic concentration in aerodynamics, gas dynamics, or flight mechanics, with coursework in computational fluid dynamics.
• Experience with aerothermodynamic analysis across transonic, supersonic, or hypersonic regimes, including re-entry or launch environments.
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition documentation, CDRLs, airworthiness frameworks, or FAA/EASA transport category certification regulations.
• Experience integrating aerodynamic analyses into multidisciplinary design optimization toolchains or Six-DOF simulation environments.

• Aerodynamic database cycle time, measured from wind tunnel data acquisition to final release against the program schedule.
• CFD prediction accuracy, quantified as percent deviation from wind tunnel or flight test measurements at key flight conditions.
• Airworthiness artifact acceptance rate, tracking the fraction of substantiation reports accepted without major rework on first submission.
• Wind tunnel test data yield, measured as the percentage of planned test points that produce usable, high-quality data.
• Flight clearance support on time, tracking on-schedule delivery of aerodynamic data packages to the engineering authority.
• Typical tools: CFD solvers (commonly MATLAB and Python for post-processing); meshing platforms (commonly Pointwise or equivalent structured/unstructured grid tools).

• Base Salary Range: $95,000 to $145,000 per year, depending on seniority and clearance level
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus, typically 5% to 12% of base salary
• Equity: Stock or RSU grants available at larger publicly traded aerospace primes; less common at smaller firms
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-sponsored plans standard
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus federal holidays and sick leave
• Common Perks: Clearance sponsorship, tuition reimbursement, professional society memberships, and relocation assistance for cleared positions

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment in these roles is contingent on successful completion of a background investigation, and positions requiring access to classified information are subject to additional security screening under applicable federal guidelines. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request throughout the hiring process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Aerodynamics Engineer SME delivers subject matter expertise to a Government Program Manager overseeing Science and Technology programs, managing engineering activities across aerodynamic design, database development, and full program lifecycle coordination with senior stakeholders. The role shapes acquisition strategy, technical reviews, and performance verification efforts, enabling Government clients to advance flight vehicle programs with informed design and process decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise to a Government Program Manager in developing and implementing a Science and Technology program.
• Oversee and manage engineering activities related to aerodynamic design requirements, conceptual and detailed aerodynamic design, and aerodynamic database development.
• Coordinate with upper management of all stakeholders throughout the life-cycle of the program.
• Perform independent technical reviews of performer efforts and provide design and process improvement recommendations.
• Aid in the development of new tools, techniques, and processes.
• Review acquisition-related documents, engineering design reviews, and readiness reviews.
• Manage verification efforts for key performance objectives.
• Support ground testing, flight tests, and simulations, including post-test analysis activities and review of test data.
• Prepare briefs and meeting minutes.
• Review and provide recommendations for CDRLs and other documents.
• Respond to official requests for information and other tasks from Government clients and stakeholders.
• Advise Government clients on incoming technical proposals and white papers.
• Discuss new ideas for Government programs with researchers.
• Track the progress of contracted researchers on Government programs, including independent testing and technology transition to end users.
• Participate in key intra- and interagency meetings and interact with performer and customer senior-level management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a related field; advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of work experience, with at least 5 years in subject matter expert or engineering leadership positions.
• Demonstrated record of technical achievement on flight vehicle programs such as guided rockets, cruise missiles, or aircraft.
• Expert understanding of aerodynamic design principles and their application to missile systems.
• Experience with flight vehicle conceptual and detailed design, CFD analysis, wind tunnel testing, and flight testing.
• Experience with systems flying in transonic and hypersonic flight regimes.
• Understanding of flight performance and 6-DOF modeling and simulation.
• Experience with aerodynamic and hydrodynamic flow, and structures and loads aligned with seaplane launch and landing.
• Familiarity with MATLAB, FORTRAN, C, or a similar high-level programming language.
• Demonstrated experience on multidisciplinary teams on large, complex, multi-phase programs.
• Working knowledge of research and development and acquisition processes.
• Prior experience as a SETA, at DARPA, or with programs related to national defense.
• Ability to prepare and present technical and programmatic information for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing plans, budgets, and schedules.

Embedded within the aerodynamic design team, the Aerodynamics Engineer performs CFD analyses of fixed-wing UAVs using open-source software, covering pre/post-processing, solver operation, grid generation, and optimization workflows across both conceptual and preliminary design phases. Working closely with the design team, this role delivers geometry-to-results CFD cycles and design improvement recommendations that directly advance UAV aerodynamic performance.

Core Functions

• Perform CFD analyses of fixed-wing UAVs using open-source CFD software, including pre/post-processing and solver operation, to evaluate aerodynamic performance.
• Establish and set up standardized processes and workflows for conducting and automating CFD analyses, including optimization studies.
• Prepare geometry for CFD analyses from CAD geometry and generate good-quality grids.
• Generate results using appropriate solver settings within limited time frames and resources.
• Post-process and document results in detail.
• Recommend design improvements to the design team based on the generated results.
• Plan, lead, and support aerodynamic sizing of fixed-wing UAVs in the conceptual design phase.
• Plan, lead, and support aerodynamic evaluation of fixed-wing UAVs during the preliminary design phase, including design trade studies and generation of aerodynamic data for subsystems.
• Support activities involving aeroelastic problems, conjugate heat transfer simulations, and wind tunnel testing.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, CFD, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 5 to 8 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience utilizing open-source CFD software.
• Good comprehension of external aerodynamics of fixed-wing UAVs, including aircraft aerodynamics, performance, and stability.
• Solid understanding of fluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, and turbulence modelling, including meshing and solver setup requirements for low-speed flows.
• Hands-on experience generating both structured and unstructured grids for CFD following best practices, and experience through a full design cycle of an aircraft.
• Experience in aeroelastic problems, multidisciplinary design, store-separation simulations using CFD tools, and wind tunnel testing.
• Exposure to CFD problems involving heat transfer.
• Proficiency in constraint analysis, external geometry sizing, and performance characteristics estimation.
• ICEM CFD, Salome, Ansys Mesh, or Fluent Meshing for meshing; SU2, OpenFOAM, or Ansys Fluent for solving; Paraview, Ensight, or Ansys CFD Post for post-processing.
• OpenMDAO, HEEDS, or ModeFrontier for optimization; low-fidelity tools including OpenVSP and XFLR5.
• CATIA, SolidWorks, or NX for CAD; Ansys SpaceClaim or Design Modeler for geometry preparation.
• STAR-CCM+, CFD++, or Tecplot as additional CFD and visualization tools.

Reporting to the flight sciences organization, the Staff Aerodynamics Engineer supports wind tunnel test planning, data acquisition, and aerodynamic database development across fixed-wing programs from substantiation reports through flight clearance artifacts. Partnering with CFD dataset providers, flight test, and flight controls disciplines, the role ensures aerodynamic data quality that enables accurate 6-DOF simulation and airworthiness compliance.

Primary Duties

• Support wind tunnel test planning, development, data acquisition, data reduction, flight corrections, and final database releases in line with program schedules.
• Verify design modifications by working closely with CFD dataset providers and assessing air vehicle impacts.
• Support flight test planning, acquisition, and analysis of flight test data in coordination with flight test and flight controls disciplines.
• Apply technical standards, principles, theories, and advanced techniques to complex professional tasks.
• Innovate solutions to technical challenges of increasing scope and complexity.
• Provide technical analysis data for substantiation data reports and airworthiness artifacts required to support flight clearances.
• Support air vehicle aerodynamic database development.
• Interact with other flight science disciplines and provide trade study support and guidance on data quality.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline with 14 years of related professional or military engineering experience, a Master's degree with 12 years, or a Ph.D. with 9 years.
• Fixed-wing aerodynamics experience required.
• Broad knowledge of wind tunnel data analysis and transformation techniques.
• Active DoD Secret clearance or higher with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or under continuous evaluation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Programs access before commencement of employment.
• Graduate-level academic concentration in aerodynamics and parameter identification preferred.
• Experience with aerodynamic and propulsion force and moment accounting, and stability and control.
• Experience in a wind tunnel test support role, resulting in timely data reduction and database generation.
• Flight test support experience, including flight test data analysis, system identification, and parameter identification.
• Experience with aerodynamic database development for six-degree-of-freedom simulators.
• Experience with MATLAB.
• Excellent communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills.

Sitting at the intersection of CFD analysis and ground vehicle performance, the Aerodynamics Engineer uses computational and physical testing methods to improve aerodynamic efficiency across exterior, under-hood, and interior systems of commercial trucks at PACCAR. Operating across engineering groups, vendors, and regulatory documentation workflows, this role enables measurable gains in fuel efficiency and compliance with government performance standards.

Duties

• Use CFD software to analyze airflow for vehicle exterior, under-hood, and interior systems and run simulations in support of government regulations.
• Use CAD software to assemble models for CFD simulations.
• Assist in building functional prototype parts for use in physical testing.
• Participate in physical aerodynamic testing, including coastdown and wind tunnel testing.
• Maintain documentation to organize procedures and data, including a database of aerodynamic results and features related to government regulations.
• Identify opportunities for increased aerodynamic efficiency and present ideas for further development.
• Work with vendors to increase aerodynamic performance.
• Collaborate with various engineering groups to convey aerodynamic results and protect aerodynamic performance through product design.
• Coordinate multiple aerodynamic projects simultaneously within the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer certification or Master's degree preferred.
• 2+ years of experience conducting CFD analysis, aerodynamic design, and development.
• 3+ years of experience using CAD.
• Basic understanding of coding, preferably using Python.
• Experience in analyzing and resolving large data sets preferred.
• Experience building, machining, and prototyping products beneficial.
• Previous experience with commercial vehicles preferred.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical groups.

A key member of the aerodynamics engineering team, the Lead Aerodynamics Engineer leads aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic design and analysis of flight vehicles while developing new technologies, tools, and processes to meet performance and compliance requirements. Collaborating across certification, flight test, and regulatory functions, this role enables vehicles to meet governing standards and advances team capability through coaching and training.

Functions

• Lead, plan, and perform aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic design and analysis of flight vehicles to ensure requirements are met.
• Work with air data system fundamentals, analyses, development, and qualification.
• Perform source error correction and inverse source error correction processes to support reduced vertical separation minimums requirements and methods of compliance.
• Lead the development of new technologies, tools, and processes to enhance technology readiness, improve vehicle performance, and reduce cycle time and cost.
• Plan, conduct, coordinate, and develop test requirements and evaluate test results to ensure compliance.
• Develop responses to proposed regulations that impact cost, performance, producibility, maintainability, and safety.
• Train and coach others.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate of Science degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or chemistry.
• 7+ years of experience in aerodynamics engineering.
• Experience with air data system fundamentals, analyses, development, and qualification.
• Knowledge of source error correction and inverse source error correction processes.
• Familiarity with reduced vertical separation minimums requirements and methods of compliance.
• Experience with aerodynamic analysis principles, processes, methods, and tools for flight vehicles.
• Experience with certification and qualification processes and procedures, including knowledge of governing regulations and compliance requirements.
• Flight test and flight test data analysis experience.
• Strong skills using neural networks or other machine learning software.
• Experience using MATLAB and Python.
• Strong analytical skills.

Sustained UAV mission performance depends on the Aerodynamics Engineer, who performs aerodynamic configuration trade studies encompassing weight, fuel, stability and control, propulsion, and payload effects, and develops 6-DOF aerodynamic databases for simulation models across conceptual through detailed design phases. Based within a multidisciplinary engineering team that includes mechanical, electrical, propulsion, and software disciplines, this role enables accurate flight simulation and design decisions for unmanned aircraft programs.

Accountabilities

• Perform aerodynamic configuration trade studies on mission performance, including effects of weight, fuel, stability and control, propulsion, and payloads.
• Develop aerodynamic databases for use in 6-degree-of-freedom simulation models.
• Maintain current legacy computer analysis programs.
• Support the development of modified and new software tools and methods.
• Support aircraft design through conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases, including analysis, prototyping, integration, and test activities.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in aircraft conceptual and preliminary design.
• Experience in conceptual design and prototyping of unmanned aircraft.
• Experience with data processing and visualization tools such as Python, MATLAB, or Excel.
• Experience partnering with a multidisciplinary engineering team, including mechanical, electrical, propulsion, and software disciplines.
• Experience communicating with management, as well as technical and business teams, to collect requirements and describe product features and technical designs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to explain complex concepts and designs to colleagues across disciplines.

As the Senior Aerodynamics Engineer, this role produces aerodynamic designs by mixing high- and low-fidelity tools to achieve performance and manufacturability targets, while architecting and managing testing across in-house rigs, flight testing, and external wind tunnels. The aerodynamics team relies on this work to develop and strengthen vehicle component designs through CFD, hand calculations, and data-driven analysis drawn from experimental results.

Activities

• Produce aerodynamic designs by mixing high- and low-fidelity tools to achieve performance and manufacturability targets.
• Architect and manage testing using in-house rigs, flight testing, and external wind tunnels.
• Gain insight using hand calculations, CFD, and low-fidelity simulations for data analysis.
• Develop and strengthen the design of vehicle components from data analysis.
• Manage data acquisition from testing.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering; Master of Science or higher preferred.
• 5+ years of experience as an aerodynamics engineer performing aerodynamic experiments and aerodynamic device design in the aerospace or automotive industry.
• Aerodynamic device design experience and experience with fluid mechanics.
• Experience with aerodynamic experiments, including wind tunnel, lab rig, and track testing.
• Experience with CFD tools such as STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, or OpenFOAM.
• Data analysis and processing using Python and MATLAB.
• Experience with CATIA or NX, and LabVIEW.
• Propeller design and operation experience.
• Experience with mid-fidelity aerodynamic tools, flutter analysis, and aeroelasticity.
• Aeroacoustics analysis experience.

Aerodynamics Engineer designs aerodynamic turbine components and technology, analyzes component and engine test data to validate designs, and develops analytical tools to improve predictive capabilities within a multidisciplinary program team. The work directly supports the implementation of technical and program requirements through lean process development and collaborative facilitation across engineering disciplines.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Design aerodynamic turbine components and technology.
• Analyze component and engine test data to validate aerodynamic designs.
• Develop analytical tools and software to improve aerodynamic design and predictive capabilities.
• Implement plans to achieve technical and program requirements.
• Develop lean processes to improve productivity and efficiency.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Relevant turbomachinery aerodynamic design experience, or a Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering relevant to turbomachinery aerodynamics.
• Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance.
• Proven group facilitation and collaboration skills.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Interest in innovative problem-solving and driving solutions as a self-starter.
• Flexible and inclusive approach to working in multi-disciplinary teams.

The Aerodynamics Engineer produces aerodynamic and aeroacoustic design upgrades for wind turbine blades across the SGRE fleet, working within the TP team of the LO&P Unit alongside the Chief Functional and a multidisciplinary group distributed across countries. This role advances fleet energy yield and noise performance through CFD simulations, wind tunnel test specifications, root cause analysis of underperformance cases, and development of new technical methodologies.

Operational Focus

• Design aerodynamic upgrades for the blade to improve wind turbine fleet performance, including energy yield and noise reduction.
• Calculate power and noise curves under standard and site-specific conditions.
• Cooperate in the design of control, operation, and safety strategies to identify possible aerodynamic problems.
• Conduct CFD simulations, including pre- and post-processing.
• Specify wind tunnel tests for the verification and validation of airfoils, support the execution of validation tests, and analyze results.
• Perform root cause analysis of performance cases and deliver technical support to other teams and departments.
• Cooperate with the team lead in specifying and developing new technical procedures, methodologies, and tools to improve team performance.
• Share learnings with the organization from operational experience of fleet performance.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in aeronautical engineering or a related field.
• 3 to 5 years of relevant aerodynamics technical experience.
• Experience in wind turbine aerodynamic analysis using CFD software such as OpenFOAM or Fluent.
• Knowledge of aeroacoustics and wind turbine blade add-ons.
• Generalist knowledge and experience related to wind turbines and wind energy disciplines.
• Experience in modelling advanced surfaces with CAD tools.
• Professional experience in data analysis with MATLAB and Python, including design of analysis models, automation of processes, and design of visualizations and KPIs for large data sets.
• Programming skills in C++, PHP, or Fortran.
• Full professional competence in English.
• Proactive, self-driven, and persistent team player with good communication skills and multicultural sensitivity.

Embedded within Virgin Galactic's Aerodynamics Team, the Aerodynamics Engineer develops and maintains aerodynamic tools, databases, and simulation capabilities for SpaceShipTwo, Spaceship 3, the mothership Eve, and other special projects across subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regimes. Working closely with internal and external engineering groups, flight test disciplines, and mission control, this role advances vehicle envelope expansion and ensures regulatory and airworthiness requirements are met for entry into commercial service.

Key Deliverables

• Design and substantiate operational flight envelopes and vehicle performance and handling qualities.
• Characterize vehicle aerodynamic environments.
• Support pre-flight preparation, including review of test limitations, flight test plans and procedures, flight readiness reviews, mission control room support, and post-flight analysis.
• Work with internal and external engineering groups to ensure proper application of design requirements.
• Support entry into commercial service by ensuring regulatory and internal requirements related to performance, handling qualities, and airworthiness are met.
• Develop standardized analysis and reporting tools.
• Perform model updates from data collected during vehicle or component testing and analytical tools.
• Develop and maintain aerodynamic tools, simulation capabilities, and test databases representing all mission phases.
• Develop and improve standards, processes, and best practices, and determine methods and procedures for new assignments.

Background & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent, with a minimum of 3 years of related experience.
• Experience with Fun3D and Pointwise, as well as CATIA V5 and NASTRAN.
• Experience in mission control and console development with IADS.
• Experience in flight test aerodynamic model validation and correlation, and full-vehicle aircraft analysis.
• Fundamentals in subsonic and supersonic aerodynamics, and fundamentals of flight mechanics.
• Experience with numerical methods, computational physics, and simulation development.
• Working knowledge of aircraft and spacecraft systems and flight dynamics, 6-DOF trajectory simulations.
• Advanced programming skills in MATLAB, Python, C, and C++.
• Test planning experience, including flight and ground testing, writing test plans, instrumentation selection, and data verification.
• Test execution experience, including familiarity with standard flight test practices and safety processes.
• Familiarity with relevant aerospace standards and design criteria, including FAA, NASA, and MilSpec.
• Knowledge of software development best practices, including code review and configuration management.
• Working knowledge of FORTRAN and Simulink.
• Excellent proactive communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and organizational skills, with the ability to complete assigned tasks with a low level of supervision.

Reporting to GM Motorsports at the Charlotte Technical Center, the Aerodynamics Engineer refines racecar aerodynamic performance through wind tunnel testing, CFD correlation, and aeromap response surface modeling in support of NASCAR race events. Partnering with race teams, virtual design groups, performance engineers, and driver-in-the-loop simulator teams, this role contributes to the competitive advantage of all GM Key Partner teams by translating aerodynamic data into implementable weekend performance gains.

Areas of Ownership

• Estimate drag, lift, and other aerodynamic results.
• Interface and collaborate with race teams and engineering groups, specifically virtual design, development, and validation groups.
• Provide direction and data to race teams to improve weekend performance.
• Support full car and subsystem models for detailed aerodynamic tests.
• Model and evaluate aeromap response surfaces for use in vehicle simulations and driver-in-the-loop simulators.
• Plan and execute wind tunnel tests and perform correlational analysis of CFD and wind tunnel test results.
• Organize test results into concise, presentable reports to support decision-making and implementation.
• Work closely with aerodynamics engineers, performance engineers, design engineers, and race team staff to improve racecar performance and implement aerodynamic refinements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related subject with coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• 3+ years of professional aerodynamic research experience; NASCAR experience preferred.
• Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering preferred.
• Knowledge of experimental aerodynamics standard methodologies and familiarity with aerodynamic and wind tunnel testing, measurement techniques, and data systems.
• Experience with data acquisition systems, data collection, and data processing.
• Experience with computer tools, 3D CAD files, CAE methods, and experimental data.
• Familiarity with the architecture and performance of NASCAR race vehicles and knowledge of NASCAR race series regulations preferred.
• Basic knowledge of scripting and programming.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills to effectively collaborate with varying levels of the organization.

Sitting at the intersection of aerodynamic design and aerothermodynamic analysis, the Aerodynamics Engineer develops aerodynamic databases, CFD toolchains, and aerothermal models for Blue Origin's New Shepard, New Glenn, and Advanced Development Programs across all flight regimes, including hypersonic. Operating across conceptual design, flight operations, and sustaining engineering, this role directly enables safe and repeatable spaceflight by providing principal and chief engineers with validated aerodynamic data and best practices.

Role Responsibilities

• Support the development of airframe and outer mold line design and configuration.
• Develop tools and toolchains to automate CFD and wind tunnel test analyses.
• Develop aerodynamic and aerothermal databases and models.
• Support enterprise-wide aerodynamic process development and training.
• Support and conduct CFD analyses and wind tunnel testing.
• Support the development of various vehicles.
• Work with principal and chief engineers in defining best practices for aerodynamic and aerothermal analyses.
• Participate in all aspects of the program lifecycle, from early conceptual design through flight operations and sustaining engineering.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering minimum; Master of Science or higher preferred.
• 5+ years of experience with air vehicle aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, or flight mechanics.
• Demonstrated experience developing aerodynamic and aerothermal data for various vehicle configurations.
• Strong aerodynamic fundamentals and intuition across multiple flight regimes, including subsonic, transonic, hypersonic, continuous, and free molecular flow.
• Experience developing and maintaining databases for use in trajectory, GN&C, and structural loads analyses using both analysis and test methods.
• Demonstrated experience with aerodynamic testing and engineering-level methods such as Missile DATCOM, MINIVER, and wind tunnel testing.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB and Python.
• Experience in the development of integrated systems and communication of aerodynamic impacts to other subsystems.
• Experience in aerodynamic tool development and integration with optimization and analysis toolchains.
• Experience with CFD solvers such as CFD++, FUN3D, CRUNCH, LAURA, or VULCAN, and pre/post-processing tools including Pointwise, Ensight, ParaView, and Tecplot.
• Experience with CAD geometry for CFD mesh building, simulation, and post-processing.
• Experience supporting wind tunnel testing, flight testing, data reduction, and post-flight data analysis.
• Experience with vehicle aerothermodynamic environments through all phases of flight, including launch, re-entry, and landing.
• Familiarity with astrodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and flight environment analysis and modeling.

A key member of Boeing's Vertical Lift Flight Technology Team in Mesa, Arizona, the Aerodynamics Engineer supports aero thermodynamic design and analysis of flight vehicles, including Apache, AH-6, Chinook, and V-22 Osprey programs to ensure vehicles meet thermal and aerodynamic requirements. Collaborating across design engineering teams, regulatory authorities, and internal and external customers, this role advances technology readiness and vehicle performance through test planning, data analysis, and hardware development support.

Job Functions

• Support the design and analysis of flight vehicles to ensure aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements are met.
• Support the development of new and improved technologies, tools, and processes to enhance technology readiness, improve vehicle performance, and reduce cycle time and cost.
• Perform fluid, thermal, and heat transfer analyses for aerospace applications.
• Develop flight test and instrumentation plans, support ground and flight testing, reduce and analyze test data, and prepare test reports.
• Work closely with design engineering teams for the development of new and improved hardware components and to resolve design and fielding issues.
• Support compliance activities with regulatory authorities and internal and external customers.
• Support evaluation of analyses and test results to determine that compliance requirements are met.

Skills & Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or chemistry, or Bachelor's degree with 2+ years of experience.
• Solid understanding of principles of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics.
• Experience with MATLAB and Excel or other data manipulation tools.
• Familiarity with Thermal Desktop or other thermal and fluid system tools.
• Familiarity with CFD software tools, especially ANSYS Fluent, including structural and internal flow pressure loss analysis.
• Familiarity with developing heat transfer coefficients over bodies and internal flow pressure drop analyses.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Knowledge of rotorcraft is desired.
• Experience at an aerospace company or government lab is desired.

Unresolved aerodynamic issues in transport aircraft production depend on the Aerodynamics Engineer, who serves as a recognized technical authority resolving complex engineering challenges through high-fidelity CFD analysis, Navier-Stokes solvers, airframe optimization methods, and wind tunnel and flight test support. Serving as a consultant to associates across diverse engineering activities, this role enables compliant, production-ready airframe designs through authoritative analysis, innovation, and adherence to FAA and EASA certification standards.

What You'll Do

• Select appropriate methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to resolve complex engineering issues.
• Serve as a recognized technical authority, consulted extensively by associates on complex field-specific issues.
• Anticipate and resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways, developing standards and guides for diverse engineering activities.
• Balance technical, cost, and schedule considerations in problem-solving approaches.
• Work with significant autonomy, with work reviewed from a long-range perspective for desired results.
• Exercise latitude in determining technical objectives and make authoritative decisions and recommendations.
• Maintain current knowledge of field developments and recommend innovations to improve product quality and effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

• An advanced degree in engineering or a related field is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of fluid mechanics and experience with CFD analysis techniques using structured and unstructured grid methods.
• Experience in generating and pre- and post-processing CAD geometric models using CATIA V5 or Rhinoceros.
• Experience generating spatial meshes for CFD solutions around complex geometries using tools such as VGRID, GridTool, and Pointwise.
• Experience analyzing fluid flows using high-fidelity Navier-Stokes CFD solvers such as USM3D, FUN3D, NSU3D, and STAR-CCM+.
• Experience with post-processing and visualization of complex fluid flow solutions using scientific visualization packages such as Tecplot.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages, including Python, MATLAB, bash, FORTRAN, C/C++, or Java.
• UNIX and Linux experience required.
• Industry experience in applied aerodynamics supporting airplane production, performing analyses and experiments to resolve aerodynamic issues.
• Airframe aerodynamic design and optimization methods required, including experience developing and running optimization codes coupled with CFD.
• Experience supporting wind tunnel testing and flight testing, including data reduction and analysis.
• Understanding of FAA and EASA transport category aircraft certification regulations.
• Good communication skills, including preparation and presentation of technical briefings for different levels of the organization.

As the Aerodynamics Engineer at Rolls-Royce, this role delivers aerodynamic designs for compressor turbomachinery that meet program requirements across nominal and off-design conditions, while maintaining and improving best practices for the compressor aerodynamic community in coordination with local and global teams. The compressor engineering organization relies on this work to coordinate fan and compressor tests, support material review board processing, and sustain the knowledge infrastructure needed for ongoing aerodynamic development.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Deliver aerodynamic designs that meet program requirements, working through team members to fulfil program needs.
• Apply tools and methods that address nominal and off-design operation, including tracking of particles such as ice and sand through the compressor.
• Assist and coordinate with manufacturing for the timely processing of material review board and concession requests.
• Organize and maintain knowledge, information, and data for ready recall and use by the team.
• Coordinate with the test department to set up and run fan and compressor tests.
• Maintain and improve aerodynamics best practices and methods for the compressor aerodynamic community, working with local and global teams.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree with 2+ years of technical background in aerodynamic design, Master's degree with a technical background in aerodynamic design, or PhD with a technical background in aerodynamic design.
• Post-graduate degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering field preferred.
• 5+ years of technical background in aerodynamic design preferred.
• Advanced coursework at the graduate level in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, thermodynamics, and computational fluid dynamics is preferred.
• Programming skills required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including technical report writing and customer presentations.

Aerodynamics Engineer develops linear and non-linear aerodynamic models supporting eVTOL transition maneuver design, performs low- and mid-fidelity aerodynamic simulations, and contributes to an in-house aerodynamic software stack across all project phases from conceptual design to certification. Success in the position means advancing the aerodynamic design of over-actuated eVTOL aircraft through full-scale and subscale flight data analysis and close collaboration with a multidisciplinary vehicle design team.

Scope of Work

• Perform aerodynamic simulations of eVTOL aircraft using low- and mid-fidelity tools.
• Develop linear and non-linear aerodynamic models to support the design of the transition maneuver from hover to cruise for over-actuated eVTOL aircraft.
• Contribute to the development and validation of an in-house aerodynamic mid-fidelity tool and aerodynamic software stack.
• Analyze full-scale and subscale flight data to improve aerodynamic models.
• Support vehicle aerodynamic design through all phases of the project, from conceptual design to certification.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, or PhD in Aeronautics Engineering or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience with a BS, 2+ years with an MS, or 0 to 2 years with a PhD in modeling rotorcraft, tiltrotor, or eVTOL aerodynamics.
• Strong understanding of fixed-wing and rotorcraft aerodynamics and a strong theoretical background in fluid mechanics and mathematics.
• Experience with low-fidelity aero simulation tools such as XFoil, AVL, or XRotor.
• Experience with mid-fidelity aero simulation tools, including potential flow, free wake, and particle wake solvers; developer experience is a plus.
• Experience modeling eVTOL and multicopter vehicles.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB scripting; experience coding in Fortran is a plus.
• Familiarity with software development best practices and version control using git.
• Experience with gradient-based and gradient-free optimization techniques and state-of-the-art surrogate modeling techniques.
• Experience in the field of computational geometry, geometry manipulation, and geometry parameterization.
• Familiarity with rotorcraft aeromechanics simulation software and high-performance computing hardware and software.
• Familiarity with aircraft and rotorcraft certification standards, including 14 CFR Parts 23, 25, and 27.
• Strong technical, written, and verbal communication skills and the ability to work both in groups and individually.

The Aerodynamics Engineer creates and analyzes ballistic trajectory simulations for guided and unguided suborbital launch vehicles at Kratos Defense Rocket Support Services, covering aerodynamic coefficient determination, mass properties management, Monte Carlo dispersion analysis, and post-flight performance assessment. This role guides the full arc of flight performance analysis from configuration development through launch operations support, requiring up to 20% travel for technical meetings, design reviews, and launch events.

Work Activities

• Analyze launch vehicle configurations and perform trade studies to support mission development.
• Perform aerodynamic analysis to determine aerodynamic force and moment coefficients.
• Manage and report overall vehicle mass properties.
• Create, shape, and analyze ballistic trajectory simulations.
• Perform Monte Carlo dispersion analysis for guided and unguided launch vehicles.
• Generate and examine predicted vehicle in-flight structural and heating loads.
• Create and manage flight safety data reports for launch range safety elements.
• Provide ballasting recommendations and wind-weighting support for launch operations.
• Perform post-flight analysis of vehicle performance.
• Support integration of thrust vector control, guidance, and attitude control system software into trajectory simulation and Monte Carlo dispersion models.
• Perform data analysis related to flight performance and Monte Carlo trajectory simulations.

Position Requirements

• Practical, hands-on experience with prototyping.
• Previous experience working with MATLAB software.
• Sound knowledge of aerodynamic stability and control.
• Working knowledge of Trajectory Analysis and Optimization Software.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance.
• Good communication skills.

Embedded within a multidisciplinary vehicle design team, the Hydrodynamics / Aerodynamics Engineer performs CFD modelling and optimization of hydrofoil wings, control surfaces, and propellers across various vehicles, addressing free surface effects, cavitation, ventilation, and fluid-structural interaction. Working closely with GNC and flight controls teams, this role delivers accurate dynamic load cases and plant models that enable realistic simulation and validated hydrodynamic performance for marine and foiling vehicle programs.

Performance Expectations

• Design hydrofoil wings and control surfaces on various vehicles, including high-lift devices.
• Perform CFD modelling and optimisation of hydrofoil wings on various vehicles, including free surface, cavitation, and ventilation effects.
• Perform fluid-structural interaction optimisation of hydrofoil wings and masts.
• Perform CFD modelling of the entire vehicle, including wing-wing, wing-mast, and ship hull interactions.
• Determine dynamic load cases for vehicles and collaborate with GNC and flight controls teams to develop an accurate vehicle plant model for simulation.
• Perform CFD modelling and optimisation of propellers.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or physics.
• 3 years of experience in commercial CFD platforms such as StarCCM+ or ANSYS Fluent.
• Experience in performing CFD-driven geometry optimisation.
• Experience in open-source CFD platforms such as OpenFOAM and SU2 preferred.
• Experience modelling water or hydrofoils, specifically cavitation, preferred.