Senior Aerodynamics, CFD & Aircraft Design Engineer

Cambridge Aerospace; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Private medical

Dental

Cycle to work

On-site catering

Job summary

Cambridge Aerospace is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics, CFD & Aircraft Design Engineer to drive aerodynamic development from conceptual sizing through to high‑fidelity CFD and multidisciplinary design optimisation.

You will shape the aircraft Outer Mould Line and overall aerodynamic efficiency, blending first‑principles engineering with fast semi‑empirical methods in a multidisciplinary design environment, collaborating across Flight Physics, Controls and other engineering teams.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, CFD or closely related discipline.
• Extensive experience in aircraft aerodynamic design and analysis across conceptual and preliminary phases.
• Proficiency with industrial CFD solvers and post-processing toolchains.

Responsibilities

• Lead aerodynamic sizing, evaluation and optimization from concept to preliminary design.
• Develop semi-empirical methods alongside high-fidelity 3D CFD to support design decisions.
• Refine Outer Mould Line and aerodynamic surfaces including propulsion integration.
• Build aerodynamic databases and assess flow across subsonic to powered regimes.
• Establish internal CFD workflows, meshing strategies and verification routines.
• Collaborate with Flight Physics, Controls and other engineering teams on trade-offs.

Skills

Aero CFD

Aerodynamics design

Flight physics

Trade-off analysis

Education

MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering or CFD

Tools

CFD solvers

Mesh generation

Post-processing tools

HPC workflows

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Senior Aerodynamics, CFD & Aircraft Design Engineer to drive aerodynamic development from early conceptual and preliminary configuration sizing through to high-fidelity CFD simulation and multidisciplinary design optimisation.

You will play a central role in shaping aerodynamic performance, the aircraft Outer Mould Line and overall aerodynamic efficiency, combining first-principles engineering, fast-turnaround semi-empirical methods and advanced 3D CFD within a multidisciplinary aircraft design environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead aerodynamic sizing, evaluation and optimisation from conceptual design through preliminary design phases
• Develop and apply semi-empirical methods alongside high-fidelity 3D CFD simulations to support aircraft design decisions
• Support the definition and refinement of the aircraft Outer Mould Line and aerodynamic surfaces, including propulsion integration from an aerodynamic perspective
• Build aerodynamic databases and assess flow physics across subsonic, transonic and powered flight regimes
• Establish internal CFD best practices, meshing strategies, solver verification routines and post-processing pipelines
• Work closely with Flight Physics, Controls and wider engineering teams to support stability, control and multidisciplinary aircraft design trade-offs

Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics or a closely related discipline
• Extensive experience in aircraft aerodynamic design and analysis across conceptual and preliminary design phases
• High proficiency with industrial CFD solvers, mesh generation tools and post-processing toolchains
• Strong foundation in semi-empirical aerodynamic prediction, first-principles analysis and aircraft sizing methods
• Demonstrated experience supporting and negotiating multidisciplinary trade-offs within an active aircraft development environment
• Deep understanding of aircraft flight physics, aerodynamics and fluid dynamics

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Background in unmanned aerial vehicle or military aircraft design
• Experience acting as a technical authority for aerodynamic performance prediction, sizing trade-offs or CFD methodology
• Experience influencing aircraft configuration selection and Outer Mould Line development
• Experience defining internal CFD workflows, HPC toolchains or aerodynamic sizing standards
• Experience across subsonic, transonic and powered aerodynamic regimes
• Experience in fast paced R&D or startup environments, with rapid prototype iteration times

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Private Medical & Dental
• Cycle to work scheme
• Lunchtime catering on site

About Us

The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air – low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.

We’re building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them – at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.

We have immense backing from the world’s best venture funds. We’re one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we’re hiring the best engineers to prosecute the mission.

If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build technology better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.