Aerodynamics Engineer
TYPE — FULL TIMELOCATION — Vijayawada, INDIAExperience: 5+ YearsCTC: ₹9–15 LPA
ABOUT THE ROLE
As an Aerodynamics Engineer, you will play a central role in the aerodynamic design, analysis, and validation of AnduraX's reusable re-entry vehicle throughout its entire flight envelope, from ascent and high-altitude free flight to atmospheric re-entry, glide, and precision landing. You will be responsible for developing aerodynamic models, generating performance databases, and supporting vehicle design decisions through analytical methods, CFD simulations, and experimental testing. Working closely with Systems Engineering, GNC, Structures, Flight Software, and Test teams, you will ensure the vehicle achieves optimal aerodynamic performance, stability, controllability, and mission efficiency across all flight phases. This role demands strong technical expertise in computational aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aerodynamic stability, and multidisciplinary collaboration. You will play a key role in shaping the flight characteristics of India's first private reusable re-entry vehicle. This role combines office-based engineering with laboratory, workshop, integration, and field-test activities. Candidates should be comfortable transitioning between analytical work, hardware development, wind tunnel testing, and outdoor flight operations.
RESPONSIBILITY
Aerodynamic Design & Analysis
- Define aerodynamic design of the reusable re-entry vehicle.
- Develop aerodynamic configurations for subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight.
- Evaluate multiple vehicle configurations through trade studies.
- Optimize lift-to-drag ratio, stability, controllability, and thermal performance.
- Develop aerodynamic databases for the complete flight envelope.
- Define aerodynamic design margins and performance targets.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Perform high-fidelity CFD simulations across all flight regimes.
- Generate aerodynamic coefficients for GNC and flight simulation teams.
- Conduct steady-state and transient aerodynamic analyses.
- Analyze pressure distributions, shock interactions, flow separation, and boundary layer behavior.
- Evaluate aerodynamic heating and high-temperature flow effects.
- Validate simulation results against analytical models and experimental data.
- Develop automated CFD workflows where applicable.
Flight Mechanics & Stability
- Perform static and dynamic stability analyses.
- Evaluate vehicle controllability throughout the mission profile.
- Analyze trim conditions across varying flight regimes.
- Support aerodynamic sizing of control surfaces.
- Characterize stall behavior, high angle-of-attack performance, and post-stall stability.
- Develop aerodynamic models for flight simulation and guidance algorithms.
Wind Tunnel & Experimental Testing
- Support design and fabrication of aerodynamic test articles.
- Plan and execute wind tunnel testing campaigns.
- Correlate wind tunnel data with CFD predictions.
- Analyze test results and update aerodynamic models.
- Support high-altitude drop tests and flight demonstration campaigns.
- Develop aerodynamic instrumentation plans for prototype vehicles.
Vehicle Integration
- Work closely with Systems Engineering to support vehicle architecture decisions.
- Collaborate with Structures on aerodynamic loads and structural sizing.
- Support GNC by providing validated aerodynamic models and control derivatives.
- Coordinate with Thermal Protection System (TPS) engineers regarding aeroheating.
- Support Flight Software and Simulation teams through aerodynamic model integration.
- Contribute to design reviews and subsystem integration activities.
Flight Test Operations
- Participate in mission planning and aerodynamic performance assessments.
- Support vehicle integration and pre-flight verification activities.
- Monitor aerodynamic performance during flight demonstrations.
- Perform post-flight aerodynamic reconstruction using telemetry data.
- Recommend design improvements based on test results.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Work closely with Systems, GNC, Structures, Propulsion, Avionics, Flight Software, and Test teams.
- Mentor junior engineers and interns.
- Support engineering hiring and technical interviews.
- Develop aerodynamic design methodologies and engineering standards.
- Contribute to technical documentation, design reviews, and flight readiness assessments.
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
- B.Tech/M.Tech/PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related disciplines.
- 5+ years of experience in aerodynamic analysis of spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft, UAVs, or hypersonic systems.
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of:
- Aerodynamics
- Flight Mechanics
- Compressible Flow
- High-Speed Aerodynamics
- Boundary Layer Theory
- Aerodynamic Stability & Control
- CFD
- Aerodynamic Heating
- Experience performing CFD simulations for aerospace applications.
- Experience generating aerodynamic databases for flight simulation.
- Strong understanding of vehicle stability and control.
- Experience supporting multidisciplinary aerospace design programs.
- Excellent analytical thinking and structured problem-solving ability.
- Strong technical communication and documentation skills.
PREFERRED SKILLS
Experience With
- Experience with:
- Re-entry vehicles
- Hypersonic vehicles
- Lifting-body configurations
- Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL) systems
- Parafoil recovery systems
- Wind tunnel testing
- Flight test data correlation
- Aerodynamic optimization
- High-temperature aerodynamics
- Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO)
Proficiency In
- Proficiency in:
- ANSYS Fluent
- STAR-CCM+
- OpenFOAM
- SU2
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Python
- Pointwise, ICEM CFD, or equivalent meshing tools
Familiarity With
- Familiarity with:
- Vehicle sizing methodologies
- Aeroelasticity
- Structural load estimation
- Thermal Protection Systems
- Flight simulation
- GNC integration
- NASA, ESA, ECSS, or ISRO standards
- Prior experience with Indian or international aerospace programs (ISRO, DRDO, private space tech firms, startups) will be considered an added advantage.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Additional Requirements
- Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment where responsibilities evolve with program needs.
- Comfortable working across multiple engineering disciplines and contributing beyond a narrowly defined role.
- Willingness to travel for flight tests, supplier visits, customer meetings, government reviews, conferences, and technical demonstrations as required.
- Ability to work outdoors during integration campaigns, launch operations, and recovery activities under varying weather conditions.
- Comfortable standing, walking, bending, and working for extended periods during hardware integration and testing activities.
- Ability to safely lift and carry engineering equipment and hardware weighing up to 20 kg, with appropriate assistance when required.
- Willingness to occasionally work outside regular business hours during integration campaigns, flight tests, critical milestones, or mission operations.
- Strong commitment to documentation, configuration control, schedule discipline, and maintaining high-quality program records.
- Ability to obtain and maintain any security clearances or background verifications required for defence, strategic, or government-sponsored projects (subject to applicable regulations).
- Demonstrate a strong safety-first mindset and adherence to laboratory, workshop, propulsion, and flight-test safety procedures.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Self-driven, proactive, and capable of independently driving complex technical programs from concept through demonstration.
- Close attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Passion for aerospace, space exploration, reusable launch systems, and advanced flight technologies, with a willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new challenges.
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