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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Aerodynamicist

💰 $ - $

Aerospace EngineeringAerodynamicsCFDWind Tunnel Testing

🎯 Role Definition

As an Aerodynamicist you will lead the analysis, design, validation, and optimization of aerodynamic performance for aircraft, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), rotorcraft, or high-performance vehicles. You will combine computational fluid dynamics (CFD), reduced-order modeling, wind tunnel testing, and flight test data to deliver robust aerodynamic concepts and validated models that meet performance, stability, and certification requirements. The role requires deep technical expertise in aerodynamics, strong data analysis skills, experience with industry-standard CFD and simulation tools, and the ability to communicate results to multidisciplinary engineering and certification teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Aerodynamics / Aerospace Engineer
  • CFD Engineer or Flow Physicist
  • Graduate Research Assistant in Aerodynamics / Fluid Mechanics

Advancement To:

  • Senior Aerodynamicist / Lead Aerodynamics Engineer
  • Principal Aerodynamicist / Technical Fellow
  • Chief Engineer, Aerodynamics or Director of Aerodynamics

Lateral Moves:

  • Flight Test Engineer
  • Aircraft Performance Engineer
  • Aeroelasticity or Loads Engineer
  • Propulsion Integration Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the development, execution, and interpretation of high-fidelity CFD simulations (RANS, DES, LES as appropriate) to evaluate aerodynamic characteristics, trim and stability, and flow-field behavior for aircraft configurations and control surfaces; ensure mesh independence, numerical convergence and model fidelity.
  • Define aerodynamic requirements and translate performance goals into testable simulation and experimental plans that support design trade studies, certification, and mission-level objectives for manned and unmanned platforms.
  • Develop, validate, and maintain physics-based aerodynamic models and reduced-order models (ROMs) for use in flight dynamics, control law design, and system integration; integrate ROMs with MATLAB/Simulink and flight simulation environments.
  • Plan, specify, and lead wind tunnel test campaigns including test matrix design, model fabrication oversight, instrumentation selection, data acquisition setup, and correlation of wind tunnel data with CFD and flight-test results.
  • Perform aerodynamic optimization using gradient-based and global optimization techniques (including adjoint methods where applicable) to meet targets for drag reduction, lift enhancement, control effectiveness, range/endurance, and fuel efficiency.
  • Lead flight-test planning and support activities: prepare test cards, coordinate instrumentation and telemetry, analyze in-flight pressure and load data, and update aerodynamic models based on flight test results to close the loop between simulation and flight performance.
  • Conduct aeroelastic and aero-thermal assessments to identify potential flutter, divergence, or thermal effects impacting aerodynamic performance; collaborate with structures and thermal teams to mitigate risks through design changes.
  • Validate numerical models by conducting systematic model validation and verification (V&V) activities, comparing CFD, wind tunnel, and flight-test data, quantifying uncertainty, and documenting sources of error and confidence levels for stakeholders and certification authorities.
  • Create clear, defensible technical reports, design review presentations, and certification documentation that summarize methods, results, sensitivities, and recommended design changes; present findings to internal technical review boards and external regulators.
  • Collaborate closely with propulsion and flight-dynamics teams to assess integrated performance impacts (propulsion-airframe integration, inlet distortion, exhaust plume effects) and support system-level trade studies.
  • Develop and maintain scripts, workflows, and HPC job-management tools (using Python, Bash, or job schedulers) to automate preprocessing, meshing, solver execution, and post-processing for repeatable, auditable CFD analyses.
  • Implement and oversee quality assurance practices for aerodynamic analyses including version control (Git), data management, and reproducible computational workflows to support multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Lead problem-solving sessions to diagnose anomalies in wind tunnel or flight data, isolate root causes (numerical, instrumentation, model fidelity), and recommend corrective actions in design or test methodology.
  • Mentor and train junior engineers and interns in aerodynamic theory, CFD best practices, test planning, and data analysis techniques; review technical work to maintain engineering rigor across the team.
  • Manage multi-disciplinary aerodynamic projects, including schedule coordination, task prioritization, resource allocation, and vendor/subcontractor oversight for testing, model manufacturing, or specialty simulations.
  • Specify and evaluate pressure, force balance, tufting, PIV, pressure-sensitive paint (PSP), and other experimental measurement techniques to extract high-quality aerodynamic data from model tests.
  • Conduct mission and performance assessments: compute takeoff/landing performance, climb/descent profiles, cruise optimization, and range/endurance estimates informed by aerodynamic models and propulsion integration.
  • Support certification and regulatory activities by preparing evidence and technical rationale for compliance with applicable airworthiness standards (FAA, EASA, or military specifications) relevant to aerodynamic performance, stability and control.
  • Participate in early conceptual design and configuration trade studies to identify low-risk, high-performance aerodynamic concepts and contribute to backlog prioritization and roadmap planning for aerodynamic development.
  • Drive continuous improvement of aerodynamic methodologies by evaluating new solver technologies, turbulence models, meshing strategies, and experimental techniques to increase fidelity while managing computational cost.
  • Interface with systems engineering, structures, materials, and manufacturing teams to ensure aerodynamic decisions are implementable, manufacturable, and aligned with program cost and schedule constraints.

Secondary Functions

  • Provide ad-hoc aerodynamic support for cross-functional design reviews, customer technical queries, and business development proposals that require aerodynamic feasibility and performance estimates.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge bases and training materials, documenting best practices for CFD setup, wind tunnel test planning, and aerodynamic design checks.
  • Support outreach and recruitment by presenting aerodynamic research and development highlights at conferences, university partnerships, and industry workshops.
  • Assist in vendor selection and technical evaluation of suppliers for model fabrication, wind tunnel facilities, or specialized simulation services and ensure deliverables meet technical acceptance criteria.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced proficiency in CFD tools and solvers such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, SU2, or equivalent, including experience with turbulence modeling (RANS, DES, LES) and numerical schemes.
  • Experience with meshing tools and strategies (structured/unstructured meshing, boundary layer resolution, mesh quality metrics, adaptive mesh refinement).
  • Strong background in experimental aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing (model design, balance calibration, instrumentation, data reduction techniques like PSP and PIV).
  • Flight test support experience: telemetry, instrumentation integration, flight test data reduction and post-processing, and coupling flight test results to aerodynamic model updates.
  • Proficiency in scripting and data processing languages such as Python, MATLAB, or IDL for automation, post-processing, and model development.
  • Knowledge of aeroelasticity and experience applying coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations or collaborating with structural teams to assess flutter/divergence risk.
  • Experience with performance and stability & control analysis, including trim solutions, control surface effectiveness, and handling qualities assessments.
  • Familiarity with CAD tools and geometric cleanup for CFD (CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX) and experience working with large CAD models for aero-analysis.
  • Experience with high-performance computing (HPC), job scheduling systems, parallel scaling, and performance optimization for large simulations.
  • Model validation & V&V expertise: statistical methods for uncertainty quantification, sensitivity analysis, and correlation metrics to compare CFD, wind tunnel, and flight data.
  • Ability to use optimization tools and techniques (adjoint solvers, gradient-based methods, surrogate modeling, genetic algorithms) to meet aerodynamic objectives.
  • Knowledge of airworthiness standards and regulatory frameworks relevant to aerodynamic compliance (FAA, EASA, MIL-STD guidance).
  • Familiarity with version control systems (Git), data management, and reproducible workflow practices for simulation and test data.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to present complex aerodynamic results and trade-offs to engineers, program managers, and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Collaborative team player who works effectively across multidisciplinary teams (structures, propulsion, flight dynamics, systems engineering).
  • Excellent problem-solving and diagnostic abilities with a methodical, data-driven approach to root cause analysis.
  • Project management capabilities: able to prioritize tasks, manage schedules, coordinate external vendors, and meet program milestones.
  • Attention to detail and high standards for technical rigor, documentation, and engineering ethics.
  • Mentoring and coaching skills to develop junior aerodynamics staff and interns.
  • Adaptability and intellectual curiosity to assimilate new solver methods, experimental techniques, and industry best practices.
  • Customer- and safety-focused mindset with an emphasis on producing verifiable results that support certification and operational reliability.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Applied Physics, or equivalent with coursework in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and numerical methods.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics, or similar with a focus on aerodynamic modeling, simulation, or experimental aerodynamics.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace / Aeronautical Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics / Applied Fluid Dynamics
  • Mechanical Engineering with Aerodynamics focus
  • Computational Science or Applied Mathematics with CFD specialization

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–12+ years depending on role level (3–5 years for mid-level, 5–10+ years for senior roles, 10+ years for principal positions)

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in aerodynamic design, CFD, wind tunnel testing, and flight-test correlation on aircraft or UAS platforms; prior experience working with certification processes or in highly-regulated aerospace environments is a strong plus.
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