FEA Engineer

CFD Research awarded $1.2 million DHA SBIR contract to support Warfighter Brain Health through blast exposure monitoring. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - CFD Research has been awarded a $1.2 million contract from the Defense Health Agency Small Business Innovation Research Program (DHA SBIR) to advance a mobile technology designed to help monitor and estimate blast overpressure exposure during military training. Blast overpressure exposure, particularly in confined training environments such as shoot houses and breaching operations, has become an increasing focus across the Department of War as part of ongoing efforts to better understand and protect warfighter brain health. While training remains essential to military readiness, there is a growing need for practical tools that help instructors, range personnel, and unit leaders assess and document blast exposure in real time. To address this challenge, CFD Research developed a Blast Overpressure (BOP) Mobile App that provides users with a fast, accessible way to estimate blast exposure during training activities. Building on successful proof-of-concept work, the next phase of development will transform the application into a field-testable platform capable of supporting a wide range of training scenarios involving weapon systems and explosives in both open and confined environments. The mobile platform will leverage advanced modeling, mobile device sensors, and user-friendly interfaces to simplify blast exposure estimation while reducing the need for manual data collection. The system will also support after-action review, exposure tracking, and reporting capabilities, providing military leaders with improved visibility into training-related blast exposures. "Protecting warfighter brain health begins with understanding and measuring the exposures our service members experience during training," said Carly Norris, Senior Engineer in CFD Research's Biotechnology & Life Sciences Division. "This effort will provide instructors and leaders with practical tools to better characterize blast exposure, support informed decision-making, and contribute to safer, more effective training operations." In addition to the mobile application, CFD Research will develop enhanced analytics and reporting capabilities to support long-term trend analysis and integration with broader Department of War systems. The resulting platform will help provide a more comprehensive understanding of blast exposure across training environments while supporting the objectives of the Department of War's Warfighter Brain Health Initiative. This award reflects CFD Research's continued commitment to developing innovative technologies that enhance military readiness, improve health outcomes, and support the safety and performance of service members. *This material is based upon work supported by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs/Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office (BIRCO) under DHA Contracting Activity (DHACA) under Contract No. HT942726CE022. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of War, DHA, SBIR/STTR Programs, BIRCO, or DHACA. About CFD Research: Founded in 1987, CFD Research is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and technology firm specializing in advanced capabilities across hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML), sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. The company develops and commercializes cutting-edge multi-physics simulation software, component and system technology prototypes, multidisciplinary analyses, and expert support services. This work has earned multiple national awards, along with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list six times in the past seven years. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with facilities in Dayton, OH, Hollywood, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, CFD Research is CMMC Level 2 Enterprise Certified, ISO 9001:AS9100D registered, and CMMI Level II appraised for Services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.

CFD Research awarded $1.8 million U.S. Air Force contract to advance ai-powered infrared target detection and tracking. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - CFD Research has been awarded a $1.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop an AI-driven framework that improves the speed, reliability, and efficiency of infrared-based systems used to detect and track airborne targets. Modern air defense depends on the ability to find and follow threats quickly and quietly. Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems do this by sensing the heat signatures of aircraft and other airborne targets without emitting signals that could reveal their presence to an adversary. While this gives them a significant advantage over radar, these systems still struggle to perform consistently across changing environmental conditions, are constrained by limited training data, and must operate within the strict size, weight, and power limits of airborne platforms. The result is a capability gap between what these systems need to do and what current technology can reliably deliver. To close that gap, CFD Research is developing a comprehensive, AI-powered framework that addresses each stage of the detection and tracking process, from generating high-quality synthetic training data to detecting and tracking targets in real time, to streamlining the pipeline that keeps the system current as new data becomes available. The framework is designed from the ground up to run efficiently on the compact, power-limited hardware found on operational airborne platforms, making it practical for real-world Air Force use rather than just laboratory demonstration. "The challenge with IRST isn't just building a system that works, it's building one that works consistently on limited hardware, across the full range of conditions it will actually encounter," said Jackson Cornelius, Manager in the Intelligence, Software, and Sensing Division at CFD Research. "This framework is designed to meet that bar, bringing the latest advances in AI to a capability the Air Force depends on." This work supports the Air Force's broader effort to integrate advanced AI and machine learning into operational defense systems, improving the speed and accuracy of threat detection while reducing the burden on human operators. The tools and methods developed through this program are designed for direct integration into Air Force workflows, accelerating the path from research to operational impact. *This material is based upon work supported by the United States Air Force under Contract No. FA2377-25-C-B014. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Air Force. About CFD Research: Founded in 1987, CFD Research is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and technology firm specializing in advanced capabilities across hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML), sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. The company develops and commercializes cutting-edge multi-physics simulation software, component and system technology prototypes, multidisciplinary analyses, and expert support services. This work has earned multiple national awards, along with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list six times in the past seven years. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with facilities in Dayton, OH, Hollywood, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, CFD Research is CMMC Level 2 Enterprise Certified, ISO 9001:AS9100D registered, and CMMI Level II appraised for Services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.

CFD Research named to Inc. 5000 for sixth time in seven years. Huntsville, Ala. - CFD Research has once again earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, marking the company's sixth recognition in seven years. Ranked No. 3497 for 2026, CFD Research also moved up from its No. 3714 ranking in 2025, continuing a strong track record of sustained growth. Founded in Huntsville in 1987, CFD Research has grown by developing advanced technologies and engineering solutions that address complex challenges for government and commercial customers. Today, the company's technology portfolio spans hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning, sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. "Being recognized on the Inc. 5000 for the sixth time in seven years is something our entire team can be proud of," said Sameer Singhal, President & CEO of CFD Research. "Our growth is made possible by the dedication of our employee-owners, the trust of our customers, and our continued focus on solving challenging problems through technology. We're grateful for how far we've come and excited about where we're headed." The Inc. 5000 recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America based on percentage revenue growth over a three-year period. CFD Research's continued presence on the list reflects the company's ability to grow while expanding its technical capabilities, customer relationships, and national presence. As a 100% employee-owned company, CFD Research continues to invest in its people, technologies, and facilities while pursuing new opportunities to support increasingly complex programs and missions. The company's rise to No. 3497 this year builds on that momentum and marks another milestone in CFD Research's continued growth. Complete results of the 2026 Inc. 5000 can be found here. About CFD Research: Founded in 1987, CFD Research is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and technology firm specializing in advanced capabilities across hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML), sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. The company develops and commercializes cutting-edge multi-physics simulation software, component and system technology prototypes, multidisciplinary analyses, and expert support services. This work has earned multiple national awards, along with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list six times in the past seven years. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with facilities in Dayton, OH, Hollywood, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, CFD Research is CMMC Level 2 Enterprise Certified, ISO 9001:AS9100D registered, and CMMI Level II appraised for Services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.