Aerodynamics and Performance Engineer

Natilus•San Diego, CA

18h

About The Position

Natilus is building the next generation of aviation through the development of blended-wing-body aircraft, delivering a step-change in overall efficiency. Our growing family of aircraft is designed to make air travel more sustainable while fundamentally improving the economics of commercial flight and the operational effectiveness of defense logistics. By combining advanced aerodynamics with innovative design, Natilus aircraft achieve exceptional fuel efficiency, increased payload capacity, and seamless compatibility with existing airport infrastructure. With hundreds of aircraft valued in the billions of dollars already on order, we are redefining how aircraft are designed, built, and operated, representing a meaningful evolution in modern aviation Work Summary: Natilus is seeking an Aerodynamics & Performance Engineer to join our team in San Diego, CA. In this role, you will conduct CFD analysis and support low- and high-speed wind tunnel testing. You will help lead aerodynamic optimization, vehicle design decisions, and performance prediction across the Natilus family of aircraft.

Requirements

A minimum of 7 years of directly related work experience
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering or equivalent work experience
Experience performing aerodynamic analysis using CFD methods
Proficiency with CFD tools (e.g., Fun3D, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or similar)
Experience with low-speed and/or high-speed wind tunnel testing, including test planning and data reduction
Understanding of aerodynamic theory, including subsonic and transonic flows
Experience with aerodynamic optimization and design trade studies
Ability to support vehicle performance prediction and design decision-making
Familiarity with aircraft or vehicle configuration development and integration
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills
Understanding of Part 23 requirements
Build trust through ownership, transparency, and follow-through
Communicates clearly, directly, and respectfully across teams
Lead by example and model expected behaviors
Ability to give and receive direct, constructive feedback
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with evolving priorities

Responsibilities

Set up and perform component and vehicle level CFD analyses.
Author and release analysis reports.
Planning, support, and execution of wind tunnel tests.
Planning and support of aerodynamic design optimization studies.
Perform comparative analyses of predicted aerodynamics with experimental and/or flight test data.
Lead method and tool development and enhancement activities.
Manage large, complex project initiatives of substantial importance to the organization with minimal oversight or direction.
Strong understanding of Applied Aerodynamics theory is required.
Strong understanding of Computational Fluid Dynamics and numerical methods.