Aerospace Engineer

Haast Autonomous; Kentucky; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Haast Autonomous in Kentucky is building an autonomous aircraft network for time-sensitive medical logistics. We’re early, small, and moving quickly, offering you ownership, urgency, and real impact from day one on the path from prototype to a working network.

As an Aerospace Engineer, you’ll bridge aircraft physics, design, simulation, and flight-test planning to ensure every prototype teaches us something valuable and moves toward scalable operations.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of aircraft performance and flight mechanics.
• Experience with UAVs or flight-test programs.
• Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks/CATIA/NX/Fusion 360).
• Hands-on CFD/FEA for aircraft analysis (ANSYS Fluent/OpenFOAM).
• Python or MATLAB for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead conceptualization and design of aircraft from core requirements.
• Build and maintain performance models for prototypes.
• Analyze range, endurance, climb, cruise, and payload tradeoffs.
• Support sizing, configuration, and design trade decisions.
• Create 3D models using CAD tools.
• Run CFD and FEA to evaluate aerodynamics and structure.
• Use XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, JSBSim, Gazebo, or similar tools.
• Support SITL/HITL workflows with ArduPilot, PX4, etc.
• Create flight-test cards, plans, success criteria, post-test summaries.
• Analyze flight logs and compare with predictions.
• Collaborate with mechanical, avionics, controls, and operations.
• Document assumptions, models, results, and engineering decisions.
• Help lay the modeling, test, and validation foundation for a scalable autonomous aircraft network.

Skills

Aircraft performance

Flight mechanics

UAV/VTOL experience

CAD software

CFD/FEA experience

Python/MATLAB

Aerospace simulation tools

Flight log analysis

Engineering judgment

Test planning

Startup mentality

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

Siemens NX

Fusion 360

ANSYS Fluent

OpenFOAM

XFLR5

OpenVSP

AVL

JSBSim

Gazebo

Job description

Haast Autonomous is building an autonomous aircraft network for time-sensitive medical logistics. We’re developing long-range VTOL aircraft, autonomy software, and the operational foundation needed to move critical payloads between hospitals, labs, and healthcare facilities on-demand faster and more reliably.

We’re early, small, and moving quickly. Joining now means you’ll have a direct role in shaping the foundation of Haast — our culture, engineering process, testing discipline, partner relationships, and the path from prototype to a real medical logistics network.

We’re looking for high-agency people who want ownership, urgency, and system-level impact from day one.

About the Role

At Haast, Aerospace Engineers bridge the gap between aircraft physics, design, simulation, flight-test planning, and real-world data.

We want every prototype, simulation, and flight test to teach us something valuable.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the initial conceptualization and design of aircraft based on core design requirements

• Build and maintain performance models for aircraft prototypes

• Analyze range, endurance, climb, cruise, stall speed, stability, control authority, and payload tradeoffs

• Support sizing, configuration, and design trade decisions

• Integrate design for manufacturing principles to ensure aircraft components are practical, efficient, and ready for real-world production and assembly.

• Create and refine 3D aircraft models using CAD tools

• Perform CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations and FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to evaluate aerodynamic and structural performance

• Use tools like XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, MATLAB, Python, JSBSim, Gazebo, or similar simulation and modeling platforms

• Support SITL/HITL workflows with ArduPilot, PX4, or similar systems

• Create flight-test cards, test plans, success criteria, and post-test summaries

• Analyze flight logs to compare true aircraft behavior with predictions

• Diagnose issues—whether aerodynamic, controls, structure, propulsion, sensors, or operations

• Transform flight data into actionable engineering improvements

• Collaborate closely with mechanical, avionics, controls, and operations teams

• Document your assumptions, models, results, and engineering decisions

• Help lay the modeling, test, and validation foundation for a scalable autonomous aircraft network

What We’re Looking For

• Deep understanding of aircraft performance, stability, flight mechanics, and test planning

• Experience with UAVs, fixed-wing, VTOL, or flight-test programs

• Strong proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, or similar)

• Hands‑on experience with CFD (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, etc.) and FEA for aircraft analysis

• Track record of using simulation and analysis to drive real‑world hardware and design choices

• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar data analysis tools

• Comfortable with tools like XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, JSBSim, Gazebo, or other aerospace simulation tools

• Able to interpret flight logs and extract actionable conclusions

• Practical engineering judgment regarding assumptions, uncertainty, and model limitations

• Able to develop straightforward, practical test plans for rapid learning

• Startup‑ready: thrive in a fast‑paced environment where models must meet reality fast

Nice to Have

• Hands‑on with ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, Mission Planner, or QGroundControl

• Experience with SITL/HITL simulation for UAVs

• Insights into fixed-wing VTOL transition dynamics

• Background in propulsion modeling, propeller selection, battery sizing, or hybrid‑electric aircraft

• Familiarity with CFD, wind tunnel, scale models, or flight‑test instrumentation

• Experience in FAA test environments, BVLOS, aviation safety documentation, or risk analysis

What Success Looks Like

• First month: Understand the aircraft configuration, build a baseline model with real data, and establish immediate test objectives

• Three months: Create a fast feedback loop—models, logs, and hardware changes work in sync, driving smarter next steps and better prototypes

• The output we care about: a better aircraft and a more insightful next test—not just a polished report