Senior Aerodynamics Engineer - Hypersonics & Reentry

Kindredventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to generate and manage aerodynamic databases for its reentry vehicles, spanning from hypersonic entry to terminal flight. You will synthesize high-fidelity CFD data with panel methods to drive system-level simulations and contribute to rapid prototyping of new concepts.

You will lead data aggregation, tool development, and validation against wind tunnel and flight data, while collaborating with GNC, simulation, and mission-design teams in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Typically 5+ years of experience in aerodynamic analysis of aerospace vehicles.
• Experience with high-fidelity CFD analysis of compressible external flows (FUN3D, OVERFLOW, CART3D, US3D, Kestrel).
• Experience with panel codes and Newtonian/modified Newtonian aerodynamics.
• Experience with handbook methods and empirical aerodynamic correlations.
• Experience aggregating aerodynamic data into a database for simulations.
• Strong fundamentals in compressible aerodynamics across speed regimes and in stability.
• Programming proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C++, or Fortran.
• Must be able to obtain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret clearance.
• On-site at Inversion HQ in Playa Vista, CA.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain aerodynamic force and moment databases spanning the full flight envelope.
• Predict aerodynamic forces and moments using high-fidelity CFD tools across flight envelopes.
• Apply lower-order methods to populate the broader envelope.
• Aggregate data into coherent database products for simulations and design.
• Support downstream users in applying the databases correctly.
• Build tooling and automation for database generation and delivery.
• Refine models using wind tunnel and flight-testing data.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C++

Fortran

Aerospace aerodynamics

CFD proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FUN3D

OVERFLOW

CART3D

US3D

Kestrel

Job description

Inversion seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Engineer to generate and manage aerodynamic databases for its reentry vehicles, spanning from hypersonic entry to terminal flight. You will synthesize high-fidelity CFD data with panel methods to drive system-level simulations and contribute to rapid prototyping of new concepts.

You will lead data aggregation, tool development, and validation against wind tunnel and flight data, while collaborating with GNC, simulation, and mission-design teams in a