UAV Design & Aerodynamics Engineer

Arquimea; Torrejón de Ardoz; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

ARQUIMEA Aerospace is seeking an UAV Design & Aerodynamics Engineer to lead conceptual and preliminary design for fixed-wing, multirotor, and VTOL platforms in Madrid. You will translate mission requirements into viable configurations, perform aerodynamic sizing, and integrate propulsion, avionics, and energy systems.

The role requires 0–5 years in UAV or aircraft design, strong fundamentals in aerodynamics, and hands-on experience with CAD tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related field.
• Strong fundamentals in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and aircraft performance.
• Experience with 3D CAD tools and developing complete aircraft configurations.
• Ability to perform aerodynamic and performance calculations and translate results into design decisions.
• Familiarity with XFLR5, AVL, VSPAero or equivalent tools.
• Proficiency in Matlab, Python, or Excel for calculations and modeling.

Responsibilities

• Perform conceptual and preliminary design of UAV configurations (fixed-wing, multirotor, VTOL).
• Develop 3D aircraft configurations and packaging using CAD tools.
• Calculate aerodynamic sizing for wings, tails, and control surfaces.
• Build performance models for cruise, endurance, range, and climb.
• Conduct stability and control assessments and contribute to GNC/interface teams.
• Contribute to propulsion and energy-system sizing and trade studies.
• Drive system-level airframe integration decisions and interfaces.
• Carry out multidisciplinary trade studies on mass, CG, packaging, and propulsion.
• Use tools for preliminary aerodynamic analysis and modeling (XFLR5/AVL/VSPAero).
• Coordinate with CFD/structural teams for higher-fidelity work.
• Support prototype build, ground and flight testing, analyze data.
• Prepare design justifications and reports for reviews.

Skills

Aerodynamics

Flight mechanics

3D CAD

Matlab

Python

Propulsion sizing

Systems integration

Education

Bachelor or Master in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

XFLR5

AVL

VSPAero

CAD tools

Job description

ARQUIMEA, we are a technology company operating globally and providing innovate solutions and products in highly demanding sectors.

Our areas of activity are Aerospace, Defense & Security, Big Science, Biotechnology and Fintech.

In ARQUIMEA AEROSPACE DEFENCE & SECURITYdevelops safer and more reliable defense systems through technology,including unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), sensing systems, command and control software, and aiming systems.

The UAV Design & Aerodynamics Engineer will contribute to the conceptual and preliminary design of unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, translating mission and system requirements into viable aircraft configurations. The role combines aerodynamic design, aircraft performance, 3D design and system-level integration, with a strong focus on making practical design trade-offs across the complete UAV.

The engineer will own and support aerodynamic sizing, flight-performance prediction, configuration definition and propulsion-related trade studies, while understanding how the airframe must accommodate and support the rest of the vehicle: propulsion, servos and control surfaces, avionics, autopilot, antennas, payloads, energy storage, cooling and other onboard systems.

Key Accountabilities:

• Perform conceptual and preliminary design of fixed-wing, multirotor, VTOL and other UAV configurations, balancing mission needs, aerodynamic efficiency, mass, volume, manufacturability and system constraints.
• Develop and evolve 3D aircraft configurations and packaging using CAD tools, working from early layouts through prototype-ready geometry.
• Perform aerodynamic sizing and engineering calculations for wings, tails, control surfaces and complete-aircraft configurations using analytical and low-order methods.
• Build and maintain performance models covering cruise, endurance, range, climb, glide, stall, manoeuvre capability and other mission-relevant flight conditions.
• Perform preliminary stability and control assessments, including static margin, trim, control-surface sizing and centre-of-gravity envelope considerations, providing inputs to GNC and flight-control teams.
• Contribute to propulsion and energy-system sizing and trade studies, including motor/engine, propeller, battery or fuel selection, power requirements and propulsive efficiency.
• Drive system-level airframe integration decisions, ensuring adequate space, interfaces, installation constraints and aerodynamic compatibility for servos, avionics, autopilot, GNSS/INS, antennas, payloads, batteries/fuel and other onboard systems.
• Perform multidisciplinary trade studies and support configuration decisions involving performance, mass, centre of gravity, packaging, propulsion and operational constraints.
• Use appropriate engineering tools for preliminary aerodynamic analysis, sizing and performance modelling, such as XFLR5, AVL, VSPAero or equivalent.
• Define analysis needs and work with CFD and structural specialists when higher-fidelity simulations or detailed calculations are required, integrating their results back into the aircraft design.
• Support prototype build, ground testing and flight testing; analyse flight-test data and correlate actual aircraft performance with engineering predictions.
• Prepare design justifications, trade-study reports, performance documentation, configuration definitions and technical inputs for design reviews.

Required Education and Skills:

Level – Degree:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.

Additional Training/Qualifications:

• Strong fundamentals in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aircraft performance and preliminary aircraft design.
• Practical experience with 3D CAD tools and the ability to develop complete aircraft configurations rather than only analysis models.
• Ability to perform engineering-level aerodynamic and performance calculations independently and to turn results into design decisions.
• Experience with preliminary aerodynamic tools such as XFLR5, AVL, VSPAero or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Matlab, Python, Excel or equivalent tools for calculations, performance models, data reduction or engineering automation is valued.
• Good understanding of propulsion and energy-system sizing for UAVs, including propellers, electric motors, combustion engines, batteries and fuel systems as applicable.
• Strong system-level mindset: able to understand how aerodynamic and mechanical design supports avionics, flight controls, sensors, communications, payloads and other UAV subsystems.
• Ability to work hands-on with prototypes and to support manufacturing, integration and flight-test activities.

Specific Knowledge:

• UAV configuration design, aerodynamic sizing, stability and control, aircraft performance and propulsion integration.
• Understanding of mass properties, centre-of-gravity management and packaging constraints in compact UAV platforms.
• Familiarity with fixed-wing, multirotor and/or VTOL UAV architectures and their practical integration constraints.
• Knowledge of UAV piloting, simulator operation or flight-test activities is valued.

Minimum Required Experience:

0–5 years of experience in UAV or aircraft design, preliminary aerodynamics, performance engineering or a comparable multidisciplinary aerospace development role. Experience participating in the development of a complete UAV or aircraft product from early design through prototype and flight testing is highly desirable.

The position is located in our Headquarters of Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid).

We're looking for curious, creative, tenacious and collaborative people, eager to do things and unafraid to tackle challenges in order to contribute to improving the society in wich we live.

Think Big, Do the Job & Enjoy Life

At ARQUIMEA, we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or other protected factors by law. All candidates will be considered equally based on their skills and experience