Aerodynamics Engineer

ABOUT THE TEAM

Stark's engineering team is a rapidly growing, agile group dedicated to developing high-performance, software-defined, and mass-scalable autonomous systems across air, sea, and command software domains. Operating in a fast-paced environment, the team combines elite engineering talent with an AI-native operational culture to solve complex design challenges, push hardware boundaries, and deliver field-tested defense capabilities

YOUR MISSION

The Aerodynamics Engineering team is responsible for optimizing vehicle aerodynamic performance and multi-domain flight stability across all mission regimes. Operating at the intersection of airframe design and flight controls, the team works directly with hardware and software engineers to bring autonomous platforms from concept to field readiness. In this role, you will lead CFD analysis and shape aerodynamic profiles that maximize efficiency and endurance in extreme operational environments.

WHAT YOU WILL DO AT STARK

You will own the aerodynamic performance of the Gambit vehicle across all flight regimes—vertical takeoff, hover in turbulent gust environments, forward transition, and high-speed strike dive. You will shape airframe and prop-rotor interactions to maximize flight time and maintain stability in extreme weather.

• Conduct Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations (RANS, URANS, DES) to analyze airframe drag, propeller-fuselage aerodynamic interactions, and prop-wash flow fields.
• Optimize fuselage surface contours, wing geometries, and rotor arm cross-sections to minimize aerodynamic drag during cruise and maximize hover stability in gusty winds.
• Extract stability derivatives and aerodynamic coefficients from CFD models to feed flight simulation baselines and autopilot tuning algorithms.
• Model and optimize high-speed dive dynamics specifically for the Strike variant, preventing control reversal or aerodynamic flutter.
• Analyze turbulence rejection and vehicle attitude authority under crosswind conditions.
• Correlate aerodynamic simulation models with wind-tunnel measurements and flight-test telemetry.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE MISSION

• 2–5 years of experience in aerodynamic analysis and CFD for UAS, rotorcraft, or fixed-wing aircraft.
• Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, or equivalent.
• High proficiency in CFD solvers (OpenFOAM, Ansys Fluent, Star-CCM+, or Star-CCM).
• Strong understanding of low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics, rotor-blade aerodynamics, and boundary-layer physics.
• Scripting and data post-processing proficiency in Python (NumPy, SciPy) or MATLAB.
• Working proficiency in English; NATO citizenship required for security clearance.