Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

About the role

You will own the end-to-end aerodynamic development of high-speed vehicles that span subsonic, transonic, and supersonic regimes. You will leverage first-principles physics, computational analysis, and experimental validation in a tightly coupled loop to de-risk critical flight performance. This role requires you to drive ambiguous, complex problems toward ground-truth solutions while balancing rigorous analysis with the speed necessary to meet aggressive program timelines. You will work directly with propulsion and integration teams to ensure that our Duality™ propulsion system is matched with an airframe that delivers predictable, stable, and efficient high-speed flight. Your decisions will directly shape vehicle configuration, performance margins, and flight test success. You will synthesize computational, experimental, and multi-fidelity data into a single, coherent aerodynamic understanding that guides design. You will be expected to challenge assumptions, validate models against hardware, and communicate technical trade-offs clearly to both engineers and leadership. This is a hands-on role where your expertise will determine how well our vehicles perform in the sky.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Perform in-depth aerodynamic design and analysis across subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flight regimes, ensuring performance targets are met.
• Conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis using multiple solvers, focusing on robust gridding strategies and insightful post-processing to extract actionable data.
• Develop and apply advanced optimization techniques, including gradient-based and heuristic methods, to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and stability.
• Create and maintain parametric geometry models that enable rapid exploration of design spaces and support iterative analysis.
• Support the complete design, fabrication, testing, and data analysis cycle for wind tunnel models, translating test results into design refinements.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to conduct multidisciplinary trade studies and refine concepts, integrating aerodynamic insights with system-level requirements.
• Lead concept refinement efforts and contribute to the development of a strong flight sciences team through mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Architect and maintain multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) frameworks tailored for transonic and supersonic configurations, connecting solvers and models.
• Ensure aerodynamic models are comprehensive and serve as the foundation for performance, stability, control, flight simulator development, and experimental flight testing.
• Work within high-performance computing (HPC) environments, utilizing mesh adaptation and adjoint-based optimization to solve complex aerodynamic problems efficiently.
• Implement and manage HPC workflows on major cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to support large-scale analysis and optimization.
• Demonstrate ownership of challenging problems, making timely and sound engineering judgments without sacrificing rigor or accuracy.
• Drive aerodynamic discovery by connecting theoretical models with real-world test data to validate assumptions and reduce risk.
• Communicate technical findings and trade-off studies clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, aligning the team on a common path forward.

Requirements

• Hold a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Bring a minimum of 10 years of cumulative experience in aerodynamic design and analysis, CFD analysis, and optimization techniques.
• Demonstrate proven proficiency in CFD solvers, parametric geometry modeling tools, and wind tunnel testing practices.
• Show expertise in high-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimization, specifically using adjoint-based methods alongside heuristic optimization approaches.
• Exhibit the ability to synthesize computational, experimental, and multi-fidelity data sources into cohesive aerodynamics models for design, performance, stability and control, flight simulator development, and experimental flight testing.
• Have experience architecting multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) frameworks for transonic and supersonic configurations, integrating various solvers and models into a unified workflow.
• Be proficient in high performance computing (HPC) environments, mesh adaptation, and adjoint-based optimization, with hands-on experience implementing HPC solutions on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Prove a history of leading multidisciplinary teams and successfully managing complex engineering projects from conception to execution.
• Show an ambition to thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where agility and engineering rigor are equally valued.
• Be comfortable making decisions based on incomplete information while maintaining a strong commitment to technical accuracy.
• Have a strong record of delivering results on demanding engineering schedules without compromising on quality or safety.
• Be willing to work in an office-centric environment five days a week to fully participate in collaborative design discussions and sprint reviews.
• Hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency to comply with ITAR and defense-related project requirements.
• Be prepared to engage with sensitive government programs where strict compliance and confidentiality are mandatory.

Nice to have

• Experience with supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamic analysis and testing.
• Familiarity with advanced turbulence modeling and compressible flow simulation techniques.
• Background in autonomous flight control systems and their interaction with vehicle aerodynamics.
• Prior work in a defense or government-contracted aerospace environment.
• Knowledge of MDAO toolchains and integration frameworks such as Dakota, OpenMDAO, or ACT++.
• Experience with high-fidelity unsteady CFD simulations such as DNS or LES for complex flow phenomena.
• Demonstrated success in optimizing vehicles for range, payload, and fuel efficiency in high-speed regimes.

Practical notes

You are expected to work in the office five days a week.

Employment is authorized only for individuals who meet U.S. work eligibility requirements.

This role may involve exposure to sensitive defense information requiring U.S. citizenship.