Senior Aerothermal CFD Engineer - Hypersonics

Inversion Space Company; California; On-site; USD 161,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Inversion advances hypersonic reentry technology with a focus on verified aerothermal modeling and CFD toolchains. The Staff Aerothermal Engineer will drive high-fidelity simulations and mentor teammates to ensure confidence in vehicle models, while expanding multi-physics capabilities for rapid iterations.

You will work on challenging flows, including rarefied regimes and plasma environments, ensuring compliance with ITAR and security requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Typically 9+ years in hypersonic, reentry, or rocketry external flow analysis.
• Experience with high-fidelity gas dynamics simulations considering intermolecular forces.
• Familiarity with meshing tools for high-quality CFD meshes.
• Knowledge of thermal-chemical non-equilibrium flows.
• Experience modeling mixed-regime plumes in rarefied environments.
• Ability to integrate ground and flight test data into models.
• Proficiency in uncertainty quantification and related math models.
• Proven, fast-paced prototyping and iteration capability.
• Eligibility to obtain US Secret/Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-fidelity aerothermal simulations for the vehicle.
• Mentor and guide team members in CFD workflow development.
• Drive CFD strategy and toolchain for groundbreaking hypersonics.
• Develop and extend multiphysics models and simulations.
• Incorporate test data to validate vehicle models and simulations.

Skills

Hypersonic aerothermal analysis

Gas dynamics simulation

DSMC/plasma tools familiarity

Mesh generation software

Thermal-chemical non-equilibrium

Mixed-regime flow modeling

Test data integration

Uncertainty quantification

Rapid prototyping

Security clearance (US)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD in related field (desired)

Tools

SPARTA

DAC

MAP

plasma simulation tools

Fidelity Pointwise

Link3D

Job description

Inversion advances hypersonic reentry technology with a focus on verified aerothermal modeling and CFD toolchains. The Staff Aerothermal Engineer will drive high-fidelity simulations and mentor teammates to ensure confidence in vehicle models, while expanding multi-physics capabilities for rapid iterations.

You will work on challenging flows, including rarefied regimes and plasma environments, ensuring compliance with ITAR and security requirements.