Senior Professional Engineer Aerodynamicist

PDS Tech Commercial; Wichita (KS); On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Retirement savings plan

Telehealth services

Job summary

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a Senior Professional, Engineering – Aerodynamicist specializing in In-Flight Icing & CFD in Wichita, Kansas. This high-impact role involves advanced simulations to enhance aircraft performance and safety under challenging conditions.

You will utilize your expertise in icing aerodynamics and CFD modeling to make critical contributions to aircraft design and certification processes. A strong background in engineering, particularly in fluid dynamics, is essential for this position.

Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, and a competitive salary range of $64.64 to $89.64 per hour.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years of hands-on experience in aerodynamic CFD and icing simulation.
• Strong understanding of numerical methods for PDEs.
• Demonstrated impact on certification programs or aircraft design.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced icing numerical simulations on complex aerodynamic configurations.
• Prepare, execute, and analyze high-lift and icing wind tunnel test campaigns.
• Develop and optimize mesh generation strategies for icing simulations.

Skills

CFD

In-flight icing expertise

Numerical methods

Programming in C/C++

Programming in Python

UNIX/Linux proficiency

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in Engineering

Tools

Pointwise

NX

CATIA

Job description

Senior Professional, Engineering – Aerodynamicist (In-Flight Icing & CFD)

Push the Boundaries of Flight Science in Extreme Conditions

At PDS Tech Commercial, in partnership with a global leader in aviation, we are seeking a Senior Professional, Engineering – Aerodynamicist specializing in In-Flight Icing & CFD to help shape the next generation of safe, high-performance aircraft. This is a high-impact role where advanced computational fluid dynamics, icing physics, and certification-grade analysis come together to influence real-world aircraft design and safety.

You will be supporting, a world-class aerospace leader recognized for designing and delivering peak-performing aircraft for business aviation, governments, and specialized missions.

Role Summary & Impact

In this role, you will be a key technical authority in in-flight icing aerodynamics and CFD modeling. Your work will directly influence aircraft performance, safety margins, and certification outcomes under severe environmental conditions. By combining advanced numerical methods, high-performance computing, and wind tunnel validation, you will help ensure aircraft can safely and efficiently operate in some of the most challenging atmospheric environments.

Your expertise will directly support aircraft certification, aerodynamic design decisions, and system-level performance evaluations that impact flight safety and operational reliability.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Perform advanced icing numerical simulations on complex aerodynamic configurations
• Prepare, execute, and analyze high-lift and icing wind tunnel test campaigns, including CFD and certification correlation
• Develop and optimize mesh generation, deformation, and adaptation strategies for icing simulations
• Analyze aerodynamic performance degradation due to icing, supporting:
• Ice protection system design
• Stability and control assessment
• Aircraft performance evaluations
• Develop and integrate advanced CFD workflows leveraging High Performance Computing (HPC) environments
• Act as a technical reference for icing aerodynamics across Flight Sciences, Loads & Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Systems, and Certification teams
• Support in-flight icing certification activities and regulatory authority interactions
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary aircraft development and sustainment programs

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Engineering (specialization in CFD and/or in-flight icing)
• 5–10+ years of hands-on experience in aerodynamic CFD and icing simulation
• Demonstrated impact on certification programs or aircraft design
• Strong understanding of numerical methods for PDEs:
• Spatial discretization
• Time integration
• Solver technologies
• Experience with mesh generation tools (e.g., Pointwise) and CAD systems (NX, CATIA)
• Proficiency in UNIX/Linux environments and HPC workflows
• Programming experience in C/C++ and Python
• Fluent in English and French
• Eligibility for defense-related programs (CGD, ITAR)
• Willingness to travel for short-term technical assignments

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting aircraft certification with regulatory authorities
• Strong background in high-fidelity CFD workflow automation and optimization
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary aerospace development teams
• Familiarity with aircraft icing certification standards and methodologies
• Strong communication skills for technical reporting and cross-functional collaboration

Why Join Us?

You will work at the highest level of aerospace engineering—where precision, innovation, and performance define everything we do. Our teams design, build, and maintain aircraft that set global benchmarks for safety, capability, and customer experience.

Here, your expertise is not just applied—it shapes the future of flight. You’ll collaborate with world-class engineers across disciplines, tackle complex aerodynamic challenges, and contribute directly to aircraft certification and performance breakthroughs.

We believe great engineering comes from empowered people. That means supporting your growth, encouraging technical ownership, and giving you the space to innovate with confidence.

Employee Benefits (Direct Placements Only)

• Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Competitive base salary
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Telehealth services

Apply Today

If you are an experienced CFD aerodynamicist passionate about in-flight icing physics, high-fidelity simulation, and aviation certification impact, this is your opportunity to contribute to aircraft that operate at the edge of performance and safety.

Submit your application through PDS Tech Commercial and help shape the future of aerodynamic excellence in aviation.

Pay Details:

$64.64 to $89.64 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://www.pdstech.com/candidate-privacy

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.