Aerodynamicist

What You’ll Do:

Scaled engineering doesn’t tend toward specialization – when you’re constantly dealing with problems never previously encountered it helps to have range and flexibility. That said, aerodynamics is at the core of designing new aircraft. And it’s a tricky enough subject that we explicitly look for Aerodynamicist candidates who have both the desire and knowledge base to approach it as a specialist career path.

An aerodynamicist at Scaled is typically involved in aircraft design from the conceptual phase onward. Using a combination of empirical methods (hand calcs, drag buildup, tail volume sizing) and computational methods (Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), 2D airfoil codes, etc.), they will work with the other engineering disciplines to develop an aircraft configuration and Outer Mold Line (OML) that meets the needs of the program. From there, work on control surface sizing, stability & control, hinge moments, inlet and exhaust design, aeroelastic stability (flutter), aircraft performance, and additional details all fall to the aerodynamicist to influence or own. 

As the design tasks taper off our aerodynamicists typically remain involved, developing relevant ground and flight tests to demonstrate acceptable vehicle behaviors and to characterize the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle in flight. This becomes a Subject Matter Expert (SME) role as flight test begins, often working both live in the control room as well as performing post-flight data reduction to ensure safe and efficient test execution and progression.

Category: Engineering

Location: Mojave, CA

Citizenship Required: United States Citizenship

Clearance Type: Secret

Schedule: 9/80 Work Schedule

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available

Benefits: 100% Paid Benefits and 401k Matching 

About Scaled

Founded by visionary aircraft designer Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites has been in the business of Designing, Building, and Flying unique airplanes and spacecraft for over 40 years. We are a modestly sized company, constantly building small teams of empowered and capable employees to achieve extraordinary accomplishments in aerospace. From the farthest (Global Flyer), to the largest (Stratolaunch), to the highest (SpaceShipOne, Proteus), and many in between, Scaled’s track record of innovation has pushed against and expanded some of the most stubborn corners of the flight envelope. 

We honor that legacy today by doing what we’ve always done - seeking out the hardest problems in aerospace and having fun while solving them. With an average of a new design first flight for every year of our existence, there is no better place to practice the arts and science of new aircraft development than here at Scaled.

Duties and Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: 

• Completing a variety of conceptual design studies in a thorough, imaginative, and practical manner.
• Analyzing aerodynamic loads, performance, stability, and control using empirical methods, hand calculations, vortex lattice codes, CFD, and flight test data. 
• CFD setup and analysis of internal and external flow and post processing of associated solutions. 
• Employing a pilot-in-the-loop simulator to conduct performance and handling qualities evaluations. 
• Documenting analysis for review and future reference, working on multiple programs.
• Supporting flight test planning, execution, data reduction, and aircraft modifications.

Required Qualifications:  

• Complete understanding of fluid dynamic technical principles and design/analysis methods 
• Thorough understanding of aircraft sizing, performance, and stability and control
• Strong problem solving, organizational, and communication skills, both written and verbal 
• Strong team player 
• Strong knowledge of aerospace technologies and products 
• Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical or aerospace engineering from an accredited institution
• Proficiency in 3D CAD, with capabilities in surfacing / lofting
• Ability to work in multiple engineering disciplines on an aggressive schedule
• Familiarity wi