Hypersonic Reentry Aerodynamics Lead

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement benefits

Work-life balance

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an aerodynamicist to advance reentry system design, hypersonic vehicles, and enabling technologies for national defense. You will join a collaborative team delivering impactful solutions and supporting continued learning and development.

Responsibilities include CFD-based analysis, wind tunnel planning, and trade studies, with opportunities to contribute to modeling software, and to communicate findings to government sponsors

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in conducting CFD simulations of hypersonic systems.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB and Linux Bash and/or Python.
• Experience with High Performance Computing clusters and batch queuing systems (PBS, Slurm, etc.).
• Experience with CART3D, CFD++ and Kestrel; grid generation tools such as Pointwise/ICEM CFD.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-discipline teams to develop advanced reentry system designs and prototypes.
• Model aerodynamic characteristics of hypersonic and reentry systems using CFD to inform concept design and evaluate performance.
• Enhance and develop modeling software capabilities.
• Lead trade studies on vehicle design concepts.
• Support wind tunnel testing including planning, execution, and post-test analysis.
• Produce reports and presentations communicating findings to team, partners, and sponsors.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Linux Bash

CFD

Education

Master's degree in Aerospace Eng or Mechanical Eng

Tools

CART3D

CFD++

Kestrel

Pointwise

ICEM CFD

US3D

DPLR

PBS

Slurm

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an aerodynamicist to advance reentry system design, hypersonic vehicles, and enabling technologies for national defense. You will join a collaborative team delivering impactful solutions and supporting continued learning and development.

Responsibilities include CFD-based analysis, wind tunnel planning, and trade studies, with opportunities to contribute to modeling software, and to communicate findings to government sponsors