Aerodynamics Engineer

This company is focused on robotics and automation to transform last-mile logistics. The team is building fast, efficient, and reliable aerial delivery systems, combining advanced robotics, aviation engineering, and operational innovation to bring autonomous drone delivery to market s is a well-fund company with strong executive sponsorship and a clear path to commercialization.

We are working with a major technology company that is seeking a Staff Aerodynamics/CFD Engineer to drive the aerodynamic design and computational analysis of their drone delivery aircraft. You will be responsible for external aerodynamics, rotor/propeller aerodynamics, and vehicle-level performance prediction using high-fidelity CFD and lower-order methods. This is a technically deep role requiring strong fundamentals and the ability to translate simulation results into actionable design guidance.

• Lead aerodynamic design and analysis of multi-rotor and hybrid VTOL configurations, including rotor-airframe interaction, transition flight regimes, and cruise optimization.
• Develop and execute CFD simulations (RANS, URANS, and where appropriate, LES) to characterize vehicle aerodynamic performance, stability derivatives, and flow field behavior.
• Build and maintain lower-order aerodynamic models (blade element, vortex lattice, panel methods) for rapid design iteration and vehicle performance sizing.
• Conduct trade studies on airframe geometry, rotor placement, nacelle design, and control surface sizing to optimize lift-to-drag ratio, hover efficiency, and transition performance.
• Correlate CFD predictions with wind tunnel data and flight test measurements; refine models based on empirical results.
• Define aerodynamic load cases and provide inputs to the structures and loads teams for airframe sizing.
• Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices for aerodynamic analysis workflows and simulation quality assurance.

• A degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree (MS or PhD) in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in aerodynamic design and CFD analysis for rotorcraft, eVTOL, UAS, or fixed-wing aircraft.
• Expert-level proficiency with commercial or open-source CFD solvers (e.g., STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or equivalent).
• Strong background in rotor aerodynamics, including blade element theory, momentum theory, and rotor-rotor/rotor-wing interaction effects.
• Experience with mesh generation tools and best practices for complex geometries (structured, unstructured, overset grids).
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar for post-processing, automation, and integration with design tools.
• Experience correlating simulation results with experimental data (wind tunnel, flight test).
• Ability to communicate complex aerodynamic concepts clearly to cross-functional teams including structures, controls, and systems engineering.