Aerodynamics Engineer

Aalto; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in aerospace technology seeks an Aerospace Engineer/Aerodynamicist/CFD Engineer in Farnborough. Join a talented team at AALTO working on cutting-edge Zephyr platforms. Contribute to design, development, and certification while ensuring that engineering efforts are aligned with performance and safety standards.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

Competitive pension plan

Qualifications

• Real world experience within an aerospace/CFD role.
• 3-D CAD geometry handling/modelling experience.
• Experience of wind tunnel test data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop aerodynamic derivatives from wind tunnel/CFD/empirical data.
• Monitor and analyze Flight Tests for validation of aircraft Stability and Control.
• Work Package Management to achieve project deliverables on time.

Skills

Aerodynamics

Flight Dynamics

CFD Simulation

Data Analysis

Communication

Education

Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Masters in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Ansys Fluent

OpenFoam

Catia

SolidWorks

Job description

Title: AALTO Aerospace Engineer/Aerodynamicist/CFD Engineer

Reporting to: Flight Physics

Ready to take your career stratospheric?

AALTO is a global leader in the stratosphere. We design, manufacture and offer Earth observation and connectivity services using our record-breaking Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) solar-electric unmanned aircraft, capable of staying in the stratosphere for days, weeks, and months at a time.

Powered entirely by the sun, Zephyr operates above 60,000 feet, high above conventional air traffic. As a new layer in Earth observation and connectivity ecosystems, Zephyr is positioned between satellites and more conventional terrestrial assets – filling in the operational gap between the two layers, while remaining a complementary solution capable of working in a system of systems.

Services delivered with Zephyr can empower government and commercial customers with capabilities to see and sense or connect from the stratosphere – making a meaningful impact on the ground, from the skies.

Join #TeamAALTO as we create this new, up-and-coming frontier, and be a part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people working together to make sure “the future is stratospheric.”

Job Purpose:

As an aerodynamicist/CFD specialist, you will play a pivotal role in the design and development, test and evaluation and certification of the AALTO Zephyr HAPS platforms and integrated payload systems.

Leveraging your focused industry experience and knowledge in fields of Aerodynamics, Flight Dynamics and Flight Loads you will contribute to complex engineering projects, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and regulatory standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation, meeting project objectives, and adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.

Overview:

We are looking for an aerospace engineer with Aerodynamics/Flight Dynamics/CFD experience to join AALTO Zephyr in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK. You will report to the Head of Flight Physics and be responsible for supporting the continuing development of Zephyr platform and future configuration design, working as part of a small team delivering to tight timescales.

The successful candidate will have experience within the fields of aerodynamics, flight dynamics and CFD simulation modelling to support the design and documentation of the Zephyr platform, ensuring that the product line maintains its dominant stance within the HAPS worldwide marketplace.

Responsibilities:

Including but not limited to practical engineering support for the Zephyr Flight Physics activities needed to:

• Derive and manage requirements from all stakeholder needs or upper-level requirements, across the successive system decomposition levels.

• Develop aerodynamic derivatives from wind tunnel/CFD/empirical data.

• Develop accurate platform geometry and consistent mesh generation for CFD run cases.

• Prepare the specification, monitor and analyse the Flight Tests necessary for flight and manoeuvre envelope expansion and validation of aircraft Stability and Control.

• Liaising with other Flight Physics & Handling Qualities Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) within AALTO Zephyr and wider Airbus teams (including prescribed centres of excellence).

• Assist in preparing and running the Flight Dynamics simulation models for the Zephyr platform. (e.g. Matlab & Simulink).

• Work Package Management of a defined scope: actively driving the project work forwards to achieve the agreed deliverables on time and to budget.

• There may be a need, on an “as-and-when-required” basis, to deploy overseas and support flight trials within the Flight Test Engineering domain.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Degree/Masters in Aerospace Engineering, preferably with a specialisation in aerodynamics and flight dynamics.

• Previous “real world” experience within an aerospace/CFD role.

• 3-D CAD geometry handling/modelling experience (ideally Catia or SolidWorks).

• CFD experience including model meshing generation, control file generation and data extraction and validation/correlation using tolls such as Ansys Fluent and OpenFoam.

• Experience of wind tunnel test data analysis.

• Experience associated with derivation of platform aerodynamic loads and load distributions from flight test/wind tunnel/CFD data.

• Experience of aerodynamic performance analysis derived from flight test/wind tunnel/CFD data.

• Proficient with MATLAB, Simulink, and associated toolboxes.

• Working knowledge of aircraft stability and flight dynamics.

• Skilled in data manipulation, analysis, and presentation.

• Ability to extract insights from flight test telemetry to ensure safe test progression and contribute to flight test planning activities.

• Effective communication and collaboration skills both within and across multi-disciplinary teams.

• Willingness to undertake a variety of engineering tasks, not limited to aerodynamics/flight dynamics/FCS, to support flight campaigns

At AALTO, we take pride in building and offering an exceptional work environment that values your well-being and rewards your dedication. We believe in recognising your hard work and commitment, which is why we provide a fantastic bonus scheme that rewards your contributions. Additionally, we understand the importance of financial security and support your future with a competitive pension plan. When you join us, you become part of a workplace that not only encourages your professional growth but also cares about your personal fulfilment and financial stability.

AALTO is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

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