Director – Aero-Performance
| Company | Shield AI |
|---|---|
| Location | Dallas, TX, USA |
| Salary | $192559 – $288838 |
| Type | Full-Time |
| Degrees | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD |
| Experience Level | Expert or higher |
Requirements
- Typically requires a minimum of 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 14 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 12 years experience; or equivalent experience.
- Extensive experience in aerodynamic design and analysis, particularly for unmanned or autonomous aircraft.
- Experience partnering with a multidisciplinary engineering team, including mechanical, electrical, propulsion, software, and AI disciplines
- Solid understanding of aerodynamic fundamentals, CFD techniques, and wind tunnel testing
- Experience with aerodynamic tools and techniques, e.g. vortex-lattice, panel-method, etc.
- Experience with Matlab or Python for data analysis
- Familiarity with translating aerodynamic analyses into workable design solutions for flight vehicles
- Familiarity with lofting/surfacing tools in Solidworks (or equivalent CAD software tools) for generating water-tight geometries
- Proven track record of successfully shipping products, showcasing the ability to navigate through development cycles, overcome obstacles, and deliver high-quality solutions to meet project deadlines and exceed expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- You have a demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others.
Responsibilities
- Lead the aerodynamic design, analysis, and optimization of UAS, focusing on performance, stability, and efficiency.
- Conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel tests to validate aerodynamic designs.
- Develop and implement aerodynamic performance models and tools to support design and flight operations.
- Support conceptual and preliminary design efforts of aircraft and components
- Progress infrastructure for databases, codes, and tools management
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including structural engineers, propulsion engineers, and control systems engineers, to ensure integrated and optimized aircraft performance.
- Analyze flight test data to validate and refine aerodynamic models and designs.
- Stay updated with the latest advancements in aerodynamics and apply best practices to our systems.
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of our engineering processes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with UAVs or other autonomous systems.
- Knowledge of aircraft propulsion systems and integration.
- Familiarity with flight control systems and their impact on aerodynamic performance.
- Experience with Pointwise, Tecplot or similar CFD software tools
- Experience with low-speed airfoil design
- Experience with wind tunnel testing
- Experience with aeroelasticity and flutter analysis