Senior Applied Aerodynamics Engineer

Leidos • Huntsville, AL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Leidos’ Defense Sector, Kinetic Effects Business Area, is hiring a Senior Applied Aerodynamics Engineer to work on-site at its Huntsville, Alabama campus, leading design and analysis of missile and aviation systems. The role calls for strong applied aerodynamics expertise and use of analytical and semi-empirical aerodynamic prediction tools to guide flight-vehicle design and analysis in subsonic, supersonic, and/or hypersonic applications.

The engineer will lead and manage technical personnel conducting aerodynamic design trade studies, performance assessments, testing activities, and development of high-fidelity aerodynamic characterizations for flight vehicles. The role also involves technical leadership, mentoring, and collaboration within multidisciplinary design teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program and 12 or more years of relevant industry experience in applied aerodynamics; alternatively, a master’s degree in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering and 10 or more years of relevant industry experience in applied aerodynamics.
• Demonstrated expertise applying analytical and semi-empirical aerodynamic prediction methods to flight-vehicle design and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading aerodynamic design studies, aerodynamic characterizations, and flight-performance evaluations, including interpreting results and recommending design decisions.
• Proficiency developing and applying Python or MATLAB tools for engineering analysis, data processing, and visualization.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience presenting technical approaches, findings, and recommendations to leadership and customers.
• Ability to provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and collaborate constructively within a multidisciplinary design team.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of War (DoW) security clearance.
• Ability to work on-site at the Huntsville, Alabama campus.
• Must reside in the North Alabama area or be willing to relocate.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering and 10 or more years of applied aerodynamics industry experience.
• Extensive experience applying industry-standard aerodynamic prediction tools and methods to missile, guided-weapon, aviation, or other flight-vehicle applications.
• Experience leading wind-tunnel tests, including test planning, test-matrix development, execution, data reduction, data-quality assessment, correlation, and reporting.
• Experience generating, processing, and applying CFD data to aerodynamic design, trade studies, performance assessments, or aerodynamic model and database development.
• Experience integrating and correlating analytical or semi-empirical predictions, CFD, wind-tunnel data, and flight-test data.
• Experience characterizing aerodynamic sensitivities, uncertainties, and model limitations across relevant flight regimes and configuration spaces.
• Active DoW security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage technical personnel conducting aerodynamic design trade studies.
• Lead performance assessments for flight vehicles.
• Lead testing activities.
• Develop high-fidelity aerodynamic characterizations for flight vehicles.
• Apply analytical and semi-empirical aerodynamic prediction tools to guide flight-vehicle design and analysis.
• Independently lead aerodynamic design studies, aerodynamic characterizations, and flight-performance evaluations; interpret results and recommend design decisions.
• Present technical approaches, findings, and recommendations to leadership and customers.
• Provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary design team.

What This Job Offers

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