Aerospace Engineer

Haast Autonomous•Pendleton, OR

12h

About The Position

Haast Autonomous is building an autonomous aircraft network for time-sensitive medical logistics, including long-range VTOL aircraft, autonomy software, and the operational foundation for moving critical payloads between healthcare facilities. The Aerospace Engineer bridges aircraft physics, design, simulation, flight-test planning, and real-world data. The role focuses on ensuring prototypes, simulations, and flight tests generate useful learning and engineering improvements. This is an early-stage, fast-moving environment where the engineer will have ownership and a direct role in shaping engineering processes, testing discipline, partner relationships, and the transition from prototype to a medical logistics network. The position collaborates with mechanical, avionics, controls, and operations teams and helps establish the modeling, testing, and validation foundation for a scalable autonomous aircraft network.

Requirements

Deep understanding of aircraft performance, stability, flight mechanics, and test planning.
Experience with UAVs, fixed-wing aircraft, VTOL aircraft, or flight-test programs.
Strong proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, or similar.
Hands-on experience with CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM, and FEA for aircraft analysis.
Track record of using simulation and analysis to inform real-world hardware and design choices.
Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar data-analysis tools.
Comfort using aerospace simulation tools such as XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, JSBSim, Gazebo, or similar.
Ability to interpret flight logs and draw actionable conclusions.
Practical engineering judgment regarding assumptions, uncertainty, and model limitations.
Ability to develop straightforward, practical test plans that support rapid learning.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where models must be tested against reality quickly.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, Mission Planner, or QGroundControl.
Experience with SITL/HITL simulation for UAVs.
Understanding of fixed-wing VTOL transition dynamics.
Background in propulsion modeling, propeller selection, battery sizing, or hybrid-electric aircraft.
Familiarity with CFD, wind tunnels, scale models, or flight-test instrumentation.
Experience in FAA test environments, BVLOS, aviation safety documentation, or risk analysis.

Responsibilities

Lead initial conceptualization and design of aircraft based on core design requirements.
Build and maintain performance models for aircraft prototypes.
Analyze range, endurance, climb, cruise, stall speed, stability, control authority, and payload tradeoffs.
Support aircraft sizing, configuration, and design trade decisions.
Apply design-for-manufacturing principles so aircraft components are practical, efficient, and suitable for production and assembly.
Create and refine 3D aircraft models using CAD tools.
Perform CFD simulations and FEA to evaluate aerodynamic and structural performance.
Use aerospace simulation and modeling platforms to support design and analysis.
Support SITL/HITL workflows with ArduPilot, PX4, or similar systems.
Create flight-test cards, test plans, success criteria, and post-test summaries.
Analyze flight logs and compare actual aircraft behavior with predictions.
Diagnose aerodynamic, controls, structural, propulsion, sensor, or operational issues.
Turn flight data into actionable engineering improvements.
Collaborate with mechanical, avionics, controls, and operations teams.
Document assumptions, models, results, and engineering decisions.
Help establish modeling, test, and validation practices for a scalable autonomous aircraft network.