Senior Aerodynamics & Flight Simulation Engineer

Virgin Galactic; California (MO); On-site; USD 109,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics and Flight Simulation Engineer to own 6DOF flight dynamics modeling, trajectory simulation, and stability & control analysis. You will lead MATLAB-based tooling and collaborate across aero/thermal, loads, and flight test teams to predict vehicle behavior and support safety assessments.

Responsibilities include developing and maintaining trajectory tools, Monte Carlo simulations, aerodynamic models, and simulation architecture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering; or 6 years with a Master's; or PhD with 3 years.
• Experience developing and maintaining flight simulation tools, including trajectory simulation and 6DOF models.
• Strong understanding of aircraft stability & control, handling qualities, and aerodynamic modeling.
• Experience with Monte Carlo methods for trajectory or performance uncertainty analysis.
• Proficiency in MATLAB; Python skills strongly preferred if MATLAB is less extensive.
• Experience analyzing flight-test data to extract aerodynamic derivatives.
• Working knowledge of aircraft or spacecraft systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve trajectory simulation tools with 6DOF models.
• Own the simulation toolchain lifecycle: version control, validation, documentation.
• Develop aerodynamic and stability & control models for performance.
• Support flight test planning, procedures, and post-flight analysis.
• Analyze flight test data to update models and derivatives.
• Contribute to aerodynamic database development using CFD and wind tunnel data.
• Develop analysis workflows and post-processing pipelines in MATLAB and Python.
• Collaborate with System Analysis, Aero/Thermal, Loads & Dynamics, Flight Test, and Vehicle Systems engineering.
• Produce analyses, documentation, and presentations for program reviews and safety.

Skills

Flight dynamics

6DOF modeling

Monte Carlo methods

MATLAB

Python

Stability & control

Handling qualities

Aerospace systems

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Master's degree

PhD (benefit)

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics and Flight Simulation Engineer to own 6DOF flight dynamics modeling, trajectory simulation, and stability & control analysis. You will lead MATLAB-based tooling and collaborate across aero/thermal, loads, and flight test teams to predict vehicle behavior and support safety assessments.

Responsibilities include developing and maintaining trajectory tools, Monte Carlo simulations, aerodynamic models, and simulation architecture.