Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

About the role The Senior Aerodynamics Engineer will be responsible for aerodynamic design, analysis, and validation of high-speed configurations, with a strong focus on steady and unsteady compressible flow simulations. The role includes aerial system design and sizing, aerodynamic database generation, and close collaboration with GNC, propulsion, and structures teams across all phases of the development cycle. Required Qualifications: 3-5 years of experience in a relevant role Core Responsibilities: 1) Aerodynamic Design & Performance Design and analyze aero configurations including body shaping, wings, fins, and control surfaces. Drive aerodynamic performance improvements: lift/drag, wave drag, stability margins, and control effectiveness across the flight envelope. Execute drag build-up and component/interference assessments; perform wave-drag and L/D optimization trade studies. Generate and maintain aerodynamic coefficients and stability/control derivatives for flight mechanics and GNC integration. Support preliminary design activities including sizing studies and configuration studies using empirical and lower-order methods. 2) CFD & High-Speed Flow Analysis Perform steady and unsteady compressible-flow CFD (RANS/URANS; exposure to DES/LES preferred). Capture and interpret shock formation/motion, shock\boundary layer interactions, separation, buffet, and control-surface unsteadiness. Select appropriate models and numerics (turbulence models, solvers, schemes) for high-speed applications. Build high-quality meshes (structured\ / unstructured\ / hybrid) , conduct grid convergence studies, and ensure solution verification/validation. Correlate CFD results with wind tunnel, empirical methods, and/or flight data; document discrepancies and drive closure plans. Ability to prepare and execute CFD runs on HPC, including exporting ANSYS Fluent case/data files and creating Fluent journal files. 3) Wing, Fin & Control Surface Aerodynamics Design and evaluate wings, fins and control configurations. Assess hinge moments, control effectiveness degradation at high Mach, and aerodynamic non-linearities affecting controllability. Analyze wing\body and fin\body interference effects; recommend geometry refinements and layout improvements. Identify aeroelastic/aerothermal sensitivities and interface with structures/thermal teams to ensure design compatibility. 4) Testing, Integration & Technical Leadership Support wind tunnel test planning, instrumentation/conditions definition, and data reduction/correlation. Provide aerodynamic inputs to cross-functional design reviews and program trade studies. Partner with GNC, propulsion, thermal, and structures teams to ensure integrated performance and robust margins. Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on methods, verification discipline, and best practices. Required Abilities Experience contributing to aerodynamic databases and flight performance models. Strong fundamentals in compressible aerodynamics and high-speed flow physics. Hands-on experience in steady and unsteady CFD simulations. Proficiency with CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent/CFX, STAR-CCM+, SU2, OpenFOAM, or equivalent. Solid understanding of: Shock\boundary layer interactions High speed compressible aerodynamics Stability and control principles