Senior Aerodynamics & Flight Dynamics Engineer

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

Stock options

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer to support operation of current vehicles and develop the next reentry vehicle. The role emphasizes high-speed CFD/DSMC, wind tunnel campaigns, and 6DOF flight dynamics modeling.

The ideal candidate will own aeroheating databases, validate ground tests against CFD, and contribute to GNC and TPS sizing with cross-disciplinary collaboration. U.S.

Qualifications

• BS degree in engineering or physics and 6+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience contributing to the aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown, or is on track to fly within the next 5 years
• Experience analyzing aerodynamic data from test, CFD, flight, and other sources and documenting findings rigorously
• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python
• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

Responsibilities

• Own the aerodynamic and aeroheating database development across the full flight envelope, from free-molecular rarefied entry through hypersonic maneuvering to subsonic terminal approach, serving as the authoritative aeroscience input to GNC, TPS sizing, and mission analysis
• Plan, execute, and reduce data from wind tunnel campaigns; reconcile ground test results with CFD predictions and update vehicle databases with traceable, well-documented revisions
• Run high-fidelity CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows using tools such as Fun3D, LAURA, DPLR, US3D, SPARTA, DAC, and CBAero; build structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise
• Characterize static and dynamic stability, develop 6DOF simulation inputs, and contribute to flight rules and vehicle-level performance models
• Synthesize aerodynamic evidence from CFD, wind tunnel, and flight telemetry into a coherent, traceable database that supports GNC, TPS sizing, and mission analysis
• Lead post-flight aerodynamic reconstruction and performance assessments; identify where preflight predictions diverged from reality and drive model updates that make the next mission sharper
• Collaborate across disciplines: GNC, structures, TPS, and mission planning, to deliver flight-ready aeroscience products and serve as the aerodynamics voice in every cross-discipline design discussion

Skills

CFD/DSMC simulations

6DOF flight dynamics

Aeroscience data analysis

MATLAB or Python

Security clearance eligibility

Wind tunnel experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics

Advanced degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Fun3D

LAURA

DPLR

US3D

SPARTA

DAC

CBAero

Pointwise

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer to support operation of current vehicles and develop the next reentry vehicle. The role emphasizes high-speed CFD/DSMC, wind tunnel campaigns, and 6DOF flight dynamics modeling.

The ideal candidate will own aeroheating databases, validate ground tests against CFD, and contribute to GNC and TPS sizing with cross-disciplinary collaboration. U.S.