Aerodynamics Engineer - Flight Sciences

The Aerodynamics Engineer will support the aerodynamic design, analysis, testing, and validation of BETA’s fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. You will develop aerodynamic models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods; plan and execute wind-tunnel and flight-test activities; and use computational and experimental data to inform aircraft configuration, performance, stability and control, loads, and certification decisions. The engineer will work closely with Flight Sciences, Flight Test, Structures, Flight Controls, Propulsion, and Certification teams to optimize next-generation electric aircraft through a multidisciplinary, first-principles approach. This position will be based onsite at our South Burlington, VT office location, our Raleigh, NC office. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role, with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT for in person work.

How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic models of varying fidelity to support aircraft design, performance, stability and control, loads, and flight-dynamics analysis
• Prepare, execute, and post-process full-vehicle and subsystem CFD simulations
• Develop and improve CFD pre-processing, post-processing, and automation methodologies to increase the quality, efficiency, and repeatability of aerodynamic analyses
• Lead aerodynamic design studies, including airfoil selection, lifting-surface sizing, lofts and blends, high-lift systems, and aircraft configuration trade studies
• Develop and maintain aircraft drag budgets and performance calculations to support design refinement and vehicle-level requirements
• Plan and support wind-tunnel test campaigns, including development of test objectives, test matrices, instrumentation approaches, flow-visualization studies, and post-processing routines
• Correlate CFD predictions and low-fidelity aerodynamic models with wind-tunnel and flight-test data; identify discrepancies and drive model and design improvements
• Collaborate with Flight Test to plan, execute, analyze, and document flight-test activities that validate aerodynamic performance, handling characteristics, and vehicle-level requirements
• Balance aerodynamic performance with structural, propulsion, flight-controls, thermal, and certification considerations to make informed aircraft-level design tradeoffs
• Support aerodynamic loads development and work with the Structures team to ensure aerodynamic capability is accurately captured in aircraft loads and structural-sizing analyses
• Develop aerodynamic validation and verification strategies that support aircraft development and certification milestones
• Communicate analysis methods, results, technical findings, and recommendations through clear reports and presentations
• Use a multidisciplinary understanding of aircraft design to proactively identify opportunities to improve vehicle performance, analysis methods, and test processes

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• At least 3–5 years of experience in aircraft aerodynamic analysis, aerodynamic design, CFD, wind-tunnel testing, flight test, or related disciplines
• Experience with CFD analysis and aerodynamic simulation methods of varying fidelity
• Experience developing or using aerodynamic models to support aircraft performance, stability and control, loads, or flight-dynamics analysis
• Experience planning, executing, or analyzing wind-tunnel and/or flight-test activities
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and data-analysis tools
• Experience with CAD tools and aircraft geometry development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical results to multidisciplinary teams
• Curiosity and ability to identify and rapidly implement new analysis, modeling, and test methods for next-generation aircraft
• Must be a US Person to be considered for the role

Above and Beyond Qualifications:

• Experience with aerodynamic design and analysis of vertical-flight, distributed-propulsion, or other novel aircraft configurations
• Experience with aerodynamic analysis tools with varying fidelities, such as XFOIL, MSES, AVL, Pointwise, Tecplot, etc.
• Experience with aircraft conceptual design, configuration trade studies, airfoil development, and lifting-surface design
• Experience leading high lift design efforts
• Experience developing aircraft drag build-ups, performance models, or low-fidelity aerodynamic models
• Experience correlating CFD, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data
• Experience supporting aerodynamic certification activities, including development of compliance methods, test plans, or reports
• Experience interpreting aerodynamic test data to support stability and control, handling qualities, aircraft loads, or flight-controls development
• Experience managing external aerodynamic-analysis, wind-tunnel, model-shop, test, or certification suppliers
• Experience as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER)