Aero CFD Engineer - Unmanned Aircraft Systems

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) matching

Pension plan

Employee referral program

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is seeking an Aero Performance CFD Engineer to join our team in the San Diego area (Poway, CA). You will lead high-fidelity CFD analyses for next-generation unmanned aircraft, develop 6DOF aerodynamic databases, and support wind tunnel planning.

Expect a comprehensive benefits package and a 9/80 work schedule. The role requires ownership of CFD workflows, strong Python/MATLAB programming, and the ability to obtain/maintain a DoD Secret

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or related technical discipline; progressive engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience with high-fidelity Navier–Stokes CFD for aircraft aerodynamics.
• Experience running CFD on HPC clusters.
• Strong understanding of turbulence modeling, numerical methods, and solver limitations.
• Proven CFD workflow ownership from CAD prep to data extraction; able to produce aerodynamic databases.

Responsibilities

• Lead CFD studies across conceptual to detailed aircraft design phases.
• Define modeling strategies and fidelity levels for programs.
• Develop high-fidelity aerodynamic databases and propulsion–airframe interaction data.
• Perform unsteady and maneuver CFD simulations to assess risk and feasibility.
• Support wind tunnel/test planning and correlate CFD to data.
• Mentor junior engineers in aerodynamic modeling and best practices.
• Contribute to internal tools, workflows, and advanced modeling capabilities.
• Engage in design reviews, test readiness, and customer meetings.

Skills

CFD analysis

Python

MATLAB

HPC computing

DoD security clearance (ability to obt

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Master’s degree in engineering

PhD in engineering

Tools

AVL

XFOIL

MSES

Navier–Stokes CFD solvers

Job description

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is seeking an Aero Performance CFD Engineer to join our team in the San Diego area (Poway, CA). You will lead high-fidelity CFD analyses for next-generation unmanned aircraft, develop 6DOF aerodynamic databases, and support wind tunnel planning.

Expect a comprehensive benefits package and a 9/80 work schedule. The role requires ownership of CFD workflows, strong Python/MATLAB programming, and the ability to obtain/maintain a DoD Secret