Principal Aeronautical Engineer - Missiles & Flight Systems

Heaviside Industries; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Heaviside Industries, based in Los Angeles, is seeking an experienced Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to own airframe design across launch, cruise, and terminal flight. You will drive analyses with CFD and wind tunnel data and build robust aero databases for 6-DOF weapons simulation.

We expect 10+ years in missiles or military aviation, with hands-on design-to-flight-test ownership and wind tunnel planning. ITAR considerations apply; this is an on-site role in Los Angeles.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of aerodynamics or flight sciences experience on missiles, munitions, military UAS, or tactical aircraft.
• Ownership of an air vehicle's aerodynamic design from concept through flight test.
• Proficiency in CFD (STAR-CCM+, Fluent, OpenFOAM) and low-order aero-prediction tools (Missile DATCOM, AVL).
• Strong foundation in flight mechanics, stability and control, and aero databases for 6-DOF weapon simulation.
• Experience with wind tunnel test planning, execution, and data reduction.
• U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR 120.62).

Responsibilities

• Own the aerodynamic design of Heaviside's munition airframes across launch, cruise, and terminal flight.
• Lead aerodynamic analysis from conceptual sizing through detailed design using CFD and wind tunnel data.
• Develop and maintain vehicle performance models—range, endurance, dash speed, and terminal maneuver.
• Generate stability and control derivatives and aero databases for GNC design.
• Lead propulsion-airframe integration for electric and small air-breathing propulsion.
• Plan and execute aerodynamic test campaigns: wind tunnels, flight tests, and parameter identification.
• Mentor engineers and set the technical standard for analysis quality.

Skills

Aerodynamics

Flight sciences

CFD

Tools

STAR-CCM+

Fluent

OpenFOAM

Missile DATCOM

AVL

Job description

Heaviside Industries, based in Los Angeles, is seeking an experienced Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to own airframe design across launch, cruise, and terminal flight. You will drive analyses with CFD and wind tunnel data and build robust aero databases for 6-DOF weapons simulation.

We expect 10+ years in missiles or military aviation, with hands-on design-to-flight-test ownership and wind tunnel planning. ITAR considerations apply; this is an on-site role in Los Angeles.