Aerodynamics Engineer - Flight Sciences

BETA Technologies; South Burlington (VT); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite healthcare in Vermont

Dental and vision coverage

Short- and long-term disability

Paid parental leave

Daily lunch provided

Job summary

BETA Technologies seeks an Aerodynamics Engineer to advance the aerodynamic design, analysis, testing, and validation of its fixed-wing and VTOL aircraft. You will craft aerodynamic models, run CFD, and guide wind-tunnel and flight-test activities, informing configuration, performance, and certification decisions.

Collaborating with Flight Sciences, Structures, Flight Test, and Certification teams, you will optimize next-generation electric aircraft using first-principles methods and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 3–5 years of experience in aircraft aerodynamic analysis, aerodynamic design, CFD, wind-tunnel testing, flight test, or related disciplines.
• Experience with CFD analysis and aerodynamic simulation methods of varying fidelity.
• Experience developing or using aerodynamic models to support aircraft performance, stability and control, loads, or flight-dynamics analysis.
• Experience planning, executing, or analyzing wind-tunnel and/or flight-test activities.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and data-analysis tools.
• Experience with CAD tools and aircraft geometry development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical results to multidisciplinary teams.
• Curiosity and ability to identify and rapidly implement new analysis, modeling, and test methods for next-generation aircraft.
• Must be a US Person to be considered for the role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic models of varying fidelity to support aircraft design, performance, stability and control, loads, and flight-dynamics analysis.
• Prepare, execute, and post-process full-vehicle and subsystem CFD simulations.
• Develop and improve CFD pre-processing, post-processing, and automation methodologies to increase the quality, efficiency, and repeatability of aerodynamic analyses.
• Lead aerodynamic design studies, including airfoil selection, lifting-surface sizing, lofts and blends, high-lift systems, and aircraft configuration trade studies.
• Develop and maintain aircraft drag budgets and performance calculations to support design refinement and vehicle-level requirements.
• Plan and support wind-tunnel test campaigns, including development of test objectives, test matrices, instrumentation approaches, flow-visualization studies, and post-processing routines.
• Correlate CFD predictions and low-fidelity aerodynamic models with wind-tunnel and flight-test data; identify discrepancies and drive model and design improvements.
• Collaborate with Flight Test to plan, execute, analyze, and document flight-test activities that validate aerodynamic performance, handling characteristics, and vehicle-level requirements.
• Balance aerodynamic performance with structural, propulsion, flight-controls, thermal, and certification considerations to make informed aircraft-level design tradeoffs.
• Support aerodynamic loads development and work with the Structures team to ensure aerodynamic capability is accurately captured in aircraft loads and structural-sizing analyses.
• Develop aerodynamic validation and verification strategies that support aircraft development and certification milestones.
• Communicate analysis methods, results, technical findings, and recommendations through clear reports and presentations.
• Use a multidisciplinary understanding of aircraft design to proactively identify opportunities to improve vehicle performance, analysis methods, and test processes.

Skills

Aerodynamics analysis

Wind-tunnel testing

Flight dynamics

Data analysis

Communication

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Related field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

CAD tools

Job description

At BETA Technologies, we apply our intellectual curiosity, passion for aviation, and commitment to sustainability toward a shared mission of revolutionizing electric aviation. Regardless of the position one holds, each team member brings their talent and desire to positively impact the environment and lives of others in a refreshing, vibrant, and inclusive culture.

The Aerodynamics Engineer will support the aerodynamic design, analysis, testing, and validation of BETA’s fixed-wing and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. You will develop aerodynamic models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods; plan and execute wind-tunnel and flight-test activities; and use computational and experimental data to inform aircraft configuration, performance, stability and control, loads, and certification decisions. The engineer will work closely with Flight Sciences, Flight Test, Structures, Flight Controls, Propulsion, and Certification teams to optimize next-generation electric aircraft through a multidisciplinary, first-principles approach. This position will be based onsite at our South Burlington, VT office location, our Raleigh, NC office. Remote candidates may be considered for a hybrid role, with monthly visits to South Burlington, VT for in person work.

How you will contribute to revolutionizing electric aviation:

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic models of varying fidelity to support aircraft design, performance, stability and control, loads, and flight-dynamics analysis
• Prepare, execute, and post-process full-vehicle and subsystem CFD simulations
• Develop and improve CFD pre-processing, post-processing, and automation methodologies to increase the quality, efficiency, and repeatability of aerodynamic analyses
• Lead aerodynamic design studies, including airfoil selection, lifting-surface sizing, lofts and blends, high-lift systems, and aircraft configuration trade studies
• Develop and maintain aircraft drag budgets and performance calculations to support design refinement and vehicle-level requirements
• Plan and support wind-tunnel test campaigns, including development of test objectives, test matrices, instrumentation approaches, flow-visualization studies, and post-processing routines
• Correlate CFD predictions and low-fidelity aerodynamic models with wind-tunnel and flight-test data; identify discrepancies and drive model and design improvements
• Collaborate with Flight Test to plan, execute, analyze, and document flight-test activities that validate aerodynamic performance, handling characteristics, and vehicle-level requirements
• Balance aerodynamic performance with structural, propulsion, flight-controls, thermal, and certification considerations to make informed aircraft-level design tradeoffs
• Support aerodynamic loads development and work with the Structures team to ensure aerodynamic capability is accurately captured in aircraft loads and structural-sizing analyses
• Develop aerodynamic validation and verification strategies that support aircraft development and certification milestones
• Communicate analysis methods, results, technical findings, and recommendations through clear reports and presentations
• Use a multidisciplinary understanding of aircraft design to proactively identify opportunities to improve vehicle performance, analysis methods, and test processes

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• At least 3–5 years of experience in aircraft aerodynamic analysis, aerodynamic design, CFD, wind-tunnel testing, flight test, or related disciplines
• Experience with CFD analysis and aerodynamic simulation methods of varying fidelity
• Experience developing or using aerodynamic models to support aircraft performance, stability and control, loads, or flight-dynamics analysis
• Experience planning, executing, or analyzing wind-tunnel and/or flight-test activities
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and data-analysis tools
• Experience with CAD tools and aircraft geometry development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical results to multidisciplinary teams
• Curiosity and ability to identify and rapidly implement new analysis, modeling, and test methods for next-generation aircraft
• Must be a US Person to be considered for the role

Above and Beyond Qualifications:

• Experience with aerodynamic design and analysis of vertical-flight, distributed-propulsion, or other novel aircraft configurations
• Experience with aerodynamic analysis tools with varying fidelities, such as XFOIL, MSES, AVL, Pointwise, Tecplot, etc.
• Experience with aircraft conceptual design, configuration trade studies, airfoil development, and lifting-surface design
• Experience leading high lift design efforts
• Experience developing aircraft drag build-ups, performance models, or low-fidelity aerodynamic models
• Experience correlating CFD, wind-tunnel, and flight-test data
• Experience supporting aerodynamic certification activities, including development of compliance methods, test plans, or reports
• Experience interpreting aerodynamic test data to support stability and control, handling qualities, aircraft loads, or flight-controls development
• Experience managing external aerodynamic-analysis, wind-tunnel, model-shop, test, or certification suppliers
• Experience as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER)

The wage listed here reflects our best faith estimate for this role. We pay competitively and base compensation on a variety of factors including skills, experience, industry background, and the evolving needs of the role. We remain committed to fair and equitable pay and we're happy to discuss during the interview process.

$145,000 – $175,000 USD

Build electric airplanes with us!

BETA offers a competitive Total Compensation package designed to support you now and as you grow with us. This role includes both Restricted Stock Units and Performance Stock Units for all full-time team members, so everyone shares in our success. You’ll have access to onsite healthcare in Vermont, comprehensive medical coverage, dental and vision, short- and long-term disability, and paid parental leave. We also take care of the everyday details with daily lunch provided, and yes—flight lessons are part of the experience, along with a range of additional perks that make work here genuinely rewarding.

We encourage all driven candidates to apply, even if they do not meet every listed qualification.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. BETA complies with all applicable federal, state and local non-discrimination laws and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind in our workplace.

Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. BETA Technologies participates in E-Verify.