CFD Engineer

Stratolaunch • Mojave, CA

22h • $101,079 - $158,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Stratolaunch is seeking a Level II or Senior CFD Engineer to join their advanced hypersonic design team. This role will support the conceptual and detailed design of current and future Stratolaunch hypersonic vehicles, with a focus on advanced CFD analyses, aerodynamic and aerothermal modeling, and the development of analytical tools. Responsibilities include contributing to design trade studies, detailed analyses, tool development, and flight test support. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in aerodynamics and aerothermal analysis, with hands-on experience modeling complex flow interactions across the subsonic to hypersonic flight regimes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years (Level II) or 5+ years (Senior) of relevant engineering experience, or an equivalent combination of industry experience and applied graduate work.
• Proficiency in CFD meshing techniques using tools such as Pointwise, ANSA, or Link3D to generate high-quality meshes for complex geometries.
• Strong foundation in aerodynamics, aerothermal dynamics, and flight mechanics.
• Proficiency with at least one major CFD solver (e.g., US3D, Fun3D, StarCCM+, Kestrel).
• Programming/scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for automation and post-processing.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing priorities.
• Eligible for security clearance.
• Scripting languages (Python, MATLAB, or similar)
• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hypersonic aerodynamic theory and analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in CFD for subsonic, transonic or hypersonic flows.
• Experience complex CFD simulations including multibody interactions, plume, scramjet or aeroheating predictions.
• Familiarity with advanced meshing techniques including overset meshing and fully structured meshes on complex vehicles.
• Experience developing and managing large CFD databases.
• Experience conducting CFD and related tasks on HPC resources.
• Proficient in lofting compound surfaces for aerospace vehicles.
• Active security clearance.
• Experience with CFD analysis tools – preferred: US3D, Fun3D, Pointwise, ANSA Link3D, StarCCM+, Kestrel, Tecplot, Paraview.
• Experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software tools – preferred: Siemens NX.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced CFD analyses of captive carry and hypersonic vehicles, with emphasis on interference effects (e.g., multi-body, control surface, propulsion-airframe interactions) and high-speed, high-enthalpy flows (Mach 5+) aero and aerothermal predictions.
• Develop, manage, and validate large CFD databases for a variety of vehicle configurations using CFD and supporting test data.
• Contribute to aerodynamic and aerothermal databases by integrating analytical, numerical, wind tunnel, and flight test data.
• Support trajectory analysis and optimization for current and future vehicles.
• Analyze wind tunnel and flight test data as required to validate CFD models.
• Develop and maintain CFD automation tools to support the team.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate CFD results into broader vehicle design and performance analyses.
• Support business proposals and technical presentations to government and industry partners.

Benefits

• 9/80 schedule
• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level