Thermal Engineer, CAE
Ford Motor Company
Airflow
Lead Aerodynamics Engineer
Regent Selection Ltd
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: North Kingstown • Rhode Island • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteJob Level
Senior
About the role
- Own aerodynamic design from early concept to production-ready designs for seagliders operating in displacement, hydrofoiling, and wing-borne ground effect regimes.
- Lead technical execution across conceptual design, CFD simulation, trade studies, and physical validation.
- Build and refine CFD workflows for rapid exploration, trade, and optimization; validate via wind tunnel, sea trials, and flight testing.
- Deliver aerodynamic data to inform GNC tuning, structural optimization, and propulsion integration.
- Mentor early career engineers, codify best practices, and raise aerodynamic capability of the team.
- Represent the aerodynamic discipline in design reviews, test planning, program milestones, customer engagements, and regulatory discussions.
- Identify risks early, plan and execute testing programs, and iterate until aerodynamic performance goals are met.
Requirements
- Strong technical foundation in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related fields.
- Demonstrated professional experience in aerodynamic design, analysis, and testing for aircraft, marine craft, or advanced mobility vehicles.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor a technical team while also contributing directly to high-impact analysis and design.
- Proven mastery of CFD-based analysis with hands-on experience using tools such as Star-CCM+, Numeca, high performance computing, and scripting.
- Proficiency in CAD-integrated workflows and geometry parametrization (e.g., Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Catia).
- Deep understanding of blown wing lift systems, flow separation, and ground effect phenomena.
- Familiarity with wind tunnel testing, and test flight data validation methods.
- Skilled in translating CFD output into usable performance data for GNC, propulsion, and structural subsystems.
- Comfortable defining and delivering design requirements that impact safety-critical systems.
- Bonus: Deep proficiency in Star-CCM+ including meshing strategy, automation workflows, and parametric studies.
- Bonus: Experience with Numeca for viscous, multiphase, or near-surface simulations.
- Bonus: Familiarity with wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) aerodynamics, hydrofoil-airfoil coupling, and aeroelasticity.
- Bonus: Experience leading model identification and validation through physical testing.
- Bonus: Understanding of multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) and scripting for automated design evaluation.
- Bonus: Experience working with regulators on certification documentation and compliance of aerodynamic data.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation including a robust equity incentive plan.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance (100% of premiums covered).
- 401(k) with company matching.
- Generous flexible time off, paid parental leave, and company-wide holiday breaks.
- Relocation packages available.
- Daily, free catered lunches.
- Learning & professional development opportunities.
ATS Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
aerodynamic designCFD simulationaerospace engineeringmechanical engineeringgeometry parametrizationblown wing lift systemswind tunnel testingmultidisciplinary optimizationscriptingphysical testing
Soft skills
leadershipmentoringtechnical executionrisk identificationcommunicationteam collaborationproblem-solvingdesign requirement definitioncustomer engagementbest practices codification
