Propulsion Inlet Design Engineer

About the role

This role leads the development of supersonic air inlet systems for propulsion airframe configurations. The position defines performance boundaries and resolves integration challenges for high-speed flight programs. Scope spans analytical trade studies, detailed analysis, and system-level integration for adaptable inlet architectures.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

The team establishes inlet performance boundaries by capturing mass flow, recovering pressure, managing flow distortion, and ensuring operability across the flight envelope. General performance metrics guide inlet architecture selection, and the resulting flow features shape inlet designs. Professionals exercise independent technical judgment to drive technically rigorous solutions within fast-paced, multidisciplinary aerospace design environments.

Requirements

The posting states a bachelor's degree requirement. The candidate brings 5+ years of experience in the design and analysis of air inlet systems to this role. The candidate demonstrates experience with supersonic inlet architectures, including axisymmetric spike inlets, two-dimensional inlets, and external or internal compression concepts. The candidate applies a strong background in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applied to internal flows to evaluate inlet performance. The candidate addresses inlet engine operability and integration issues, including distortion, bleed management, and transient behavior. The candidate operates independently and delivers technically rigorous solutions within highly coupled propulsion airframe designs. A degree is required for this position.

Practical notes

Equal opportunity applies to all qualified candidates. Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Aerospace inlet design depends on compressible flow principles and integration tradeoffs. Professionals commonly use CFD tools to analyze internal flows and validate performance across flight conditions. Clear communication supports multidisciplinary teams in high-speed system development.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.

About the company

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable.