Flight Performance Engineer

Tiberius Aerospace Inc.; Tucson, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Tiberius Aerospace Inc. in Tucson, AZ, invites an experienced Flight Performance Engineer to join our Aerodynamics & Propulsion team.

You will build and maintain reduced-order performance models, integrate CFD and test data, and drive program-level performance predictions across air vehicle and munition programs. This role bridges CFD, ground and flight testing, with opportunities to shape modeling standards, document data provenance, and present results at program milestones.

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years in aerodynamics, propulsion, or flight performance analysis.
• Proficiency in performance modeling, data analysis, and automation.
• Working knowledge of aerodynamic and propulsion fundamentals.
• Experience with reduced-order vehicle performance modeling (3-DOF/point-mass).
• Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain flight vehicle and propulsion performance models, including reduced-order simulation environments.
• Support aerodynamic and propulsion databases, ensuring version control and well-documented data.
• Reduce and analyze wind tunnel, engine, and flight test data to compare with model predictions.
• Assist test planning, instrumentation definition, and point selection for campaigns.
• Document correlation results and update models with new data.
• Collaborate with aero-propulsion engineers to reflect latest analysis and test results.
• Prepare performance analysis summaries for milestone packages.
• Present at major program milestone reviews and defend predictions.

Skills

Performance modeling

Data analysis

Automation

CFD familiarity

Flight dynamics

Education

B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering

Job description

About Tiberius Aerospace

Tiberius Aerospace is a cutting-edge Aerospace and Defense company committed to delivering innovative, secure, and compliant solutions for our customers. We specialize in mission-critical technology services for government and private sector customers, ensuring excellence in aerospace systems design, performance, and compliance. To serve our nations with Strength, Honor, and Purpose - forging the systems that defend freedom and shape the future of defense.

Flight Performance Engineer

Performance Modeling | Test Data Reduction | Database Validation

Job Title Flight Performance Engineer

Location Hybrid; remote considered for the right candidate

Employment Type Full Time

Department Engineering / Aerodynamics & Propulsion

Reports To Shawn Gilmore

Salary Range $100,000 to $150,000

Equity Yes

About Tiberius Aerospace

Tiberius Aerospace is a cutting-edge Aerospace and Defense company delivering advanced, mission-critical technologies for government and private sector customers. The company focuses on high-performance aerospace systems, secure engineering solutions, and the development of complex hardware built for demanding operational environments. Tiberius is scaling quickly and is looking for engineers who can operate with ownership, urgency, and technical discipline in a high-stakes environment.

Position Overview

Tiberius Aerospace is seeking a Flight Performance Engineer to support vehicle and engine performance modeling, test data reduction, and database validation for our advanced air vehicle and munition programs. This role is the bridge between CFD, ground and flight test, and the performance models that the broader program relies on. You will build and maintain reduced-order performance models, reduce test data from wind tunnel and engine test campaigns, and help close the loop between predicted and measured performance. This is a strong fit for an analytically minded engineer who wants exposure across modeling, test, and design without specializing purely in CFD. Coordinate daily with internal discipline leads and interface directly with government customer technical representatives.

Performance Modeling & Test Data Analysis

Develop and maintain reduced-order vehicle performance models, incorporating aerodynamic and propulsion data for use in design trade studies and program performance tracking.

Support database management for aerodynamic and propulsion, including version control, interpolation scheme validation, and uncertainty bound documentation across Mach, altitude, attitude, and throttle conditions.

Perform test data reduction for wind tunnel campaigns including force and moment balance data, pressure measurements, and flow visualization results.

Perform test data reduction for engine or direct-connect test campaigns including thrust, fuel flow, pressure recovery, and combustion efficiency calculations.

Support correlation analysis comparing model predictions against test or flight data, identifying discrepancy sources and supporting model refinement recommendations.

Develop test instrumentation and data acquisition plans in coordination with the test team, defining required measurements and sampling requirements to answer specific performance questions.

Support uncertainty quantification for performance predictions, including propagation of measurement uncertainty and model-form uncertainty into program-level performance margins.

Maintain analysis documentation including model derivation, data sources, validation basis, and revision history for audit and knowledge transfer purposes.

Operational & Cross-Functional Support

Coordinate with CFD engineers on data handoff format and timing for incorporating CFD results into performance models and databases.

Provide performance model outputs to the Flight Dynamics & Controls team for trajectory simulation and requirements verification support.

Support test campaign planning and execution logistics in coordination with other Aero-Performance engineers and external test facility partners.

Participate in design reviews and provide performance modeling support for aerodynamic and propulsion design decisions.

Support program management with performance status updates, model maturity assessments, and risk identification related to performance predictions.

Coordinate with Quality or Test Engineering on test data archiving, traceability, and configuration management practices.

Interface with government customer technical representatives and subject matter experts on performance requirements and design trade-offs.

What You'll Bring

B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.

4 or more years of experience in aerodynamics, propulsion, or flight performance analysis, which may include relevant graduate research, internships, or industry experience.

Proficiency in tools and methods for performance modeling, data analysis, and automation.

Working knowledge of aerodynamic and propulsion fundamentals including coefficient definitions, engine cycle performance, and flight mechanics.

Familiarity with reduced-order vehicle performance modeling such as 3-DOF or point-mass trajectory simulation.

Exposure to CFD-derived aerodynamic and propulsion databases and how they are integrated into performance models.

What You'll Do

Build and maintain flight vehicle and propulsion performance models, including reduced-order simulation environments, used to predict and track program-level performance.

Support generation and maintenance of aerodynamic and propulsion databases, integrating CFD and test-derived data into a consistent, well-documented format.

Reduce and analyze test data from wind tunnel, ground engine test campaigns, and flight testing, supporting comparison against model predictions.

Support test planning activities including instrumentation requirements definition, test point selection, and success criteria development for ground and flight test campaigns.

Document correlation results and update models as new data becomes available. Collaborate with other Aero-Propulsion engineers to ensure performance models reflect the latest analysis and test results.

Support trade studies evaluating aerodynamic and propulsion configuration options against program performance requirements.

Prepare performance analysis summaries and supporting documentation for program milestone packages.

Serve as the primary performance presenter at major program milestone reviews including conceptual design review, preliminary design review, and critical design review.

Experience working with test data including data reduction, basic statistical analysis, and uncertainty considerations.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in maintaining models, databases, and analysis documentation.

Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Preferred Experience

Experience reducing flight test, wind tunnel, direct-connect engine, or ground engine test data.

Experience supporting test planning including instrumentation definition and test point selection.

Background in uncertainty quantification or statistical analysis methods applied to engineering performance data.

Experience with high-dynamic, high-g, or gun-launched flight environments.

Active U.S. Secret or Top-Secret security clearance.

What We're Looking For

An analyst who is comfortable moving between modeling, test data, and design discussions, and who enjoys closing the loop between a prediction and what actually happened in the test.

Someone who is meticulous about data provenance and documentation, and who other engineers can trust to maintain a clean, well-organized performance model and database.

An engineer who asks good questions about test data before accepting it at face value, and who can identify when a discrepancy is a measurement issue versus a modeling gap.

Someone eager to build broad exposure across aerodynamics, propulsion, and test, with the curiosity to dig into whichever area the program needs most at a given time.

A collaborative team member who works well supporting other engineers while steadily increasing their own analysis ownership.

A technically credible presenter who can stand in front of a customer at a CDR and defend a performance prediction with the data and physics to back it up.

Compensation & Benefits

Tiberius Aerospace offers competitive base compensation commensurate with experience, equity participation, comprehensive health benefits, and 401(k). Specific compensation will be discussed during the interview process.

Growth Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to build broad, hands-on experience across performance modeling, test data analysis, and database development on real flight hardware programs, working directly with other Aero-Propulsion engineers. As Tiberius scales through Series A and into full-rate development across multiple programs, this person will be considered for leading the broader aerodynamics and propulsion team.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Tiberius Aerospace Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company maintains policies and practices designed to prevent discrimination or harassment against any qualified applicant or employee to the extent prohibited by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law is prohibited.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or need an alternative method for applying, you may contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Tiberius Aerospace Inc. participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 Form information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Tiberius Aerospace Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. The Company maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination or harassment against any qualified applicant or employee to the extent prohibited by federal, state and local laws and regulations. By way of example, discrimination on the basis of race (actual or perceived), ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law is prohibited. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or need an alternative method for applying, you may contact [e-mail] for assistance. Tiberius Aerospace Inc. participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 Form information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.