Description
A mid-tier defense contractor headquartered in San Diego is expanding its unmanned aerial systems division and seeking an Aerodynamics Engineer who lives and breathes computational fluid dynamics. We design fixed-wing, flying-wing, and multirotor platforms for ISR and loitering munition applications, and we need someone who can take a napkin sketch and turn it into a validated, flight-ready airframe.
What your days will look like:
- Building and refining 3D CAD models of UAV airframes, optimizing for minimal drag and maximum lift-to-drag ratio across the intended flight envelope.
- Running steady-state and transient CFD simulations in ANSYS Fluent and OpenFOAM to predict aerodynamic loads, stall characteristics, and control surface effectiveness.
- Performing structural finite-element analysis on wing spars, fuselage frames, and empennage components to ensure they survive maneuver loads and gust responses.
- Selecting propulsion packages — brushless outrunners, propeller geometries, and LiPo/Li-ion battery configurations — to hit target endurance and payload figures.
- Collaborating with the flight test team to plan instrumentation, analyze telemetry data from maiden flights, and correlate real-world performance against simulation predictions.
What you bring to the table:
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics.
- At least 2 years of hands-on experience with CAD/CAE tools — SolidWorks, ANSYS Mechanical, or equivalent — specifically applied to aircraft or drone structures.
- Solid grounding in subsonic and transonic aerodynamic theory, boundary layer behavior, and weight optimization techniques.
- Bonus points if you have designed and fabricated composite layups (carbon fiber, fiberglass) and understand cure cycle implications on structural performance.
What we offer:
- An annual salary starting at $110,000 USD, adjusted for experience and clearance eligibility.
- A fully remote position with access to cloud-based HPC clusters for heavy simulation runs; quarterly on-site visits to our San Diego integration lab are encouraged but flexible.
- ITAR-compliant workstation and licenses for all required software shipped to your home office.
- The chance to see your designs transition from simulation to prototype to operational deployment within months, not years.