Cfd Engineer, Launch Program

Role PurposeThe CFD Engineer owns the aerodynamic and aerothermal analysis capability for NordSpace's launch vehicle, SHARP hypersonic platforms, and future programs. This role is responsible for generating aerodynamic databases, predicting thermal environments, planning and executing wind tunnel test campaigns, and correlating computational results against tunnel and flight data to build validated analysis methods. Working across structures, propulsion, avionics, and mission teams, this engineer provides the aerodynamic and aerothermal inputs that drive vehicle design decisions from concept through flight.
Core ResponsibilitiesVehicle Aerodynamics & Aerothermal Analysis:
Generate ascent, transonic, supersonic, and re‑entry aerodynamic databases (force and moment coefficients, pressure distributions, stability derivatives, control‑surface effectiveness) for the launch vehicle, SHARP hypersonic platforms, and future programs.
Predict surface heat flux, recovery temperatures, and thermal environments across subsonic through hypersonic regimes, including shock‑boundary‑layer interactions, shock‑shock interactions, and real‑gas effects.
Predict unsteady aerodynamic loads, buffet, and acoustic environments during ascent and transonic flight. Support structures and avionics teams on vibration and acoustic qualification.
Model exhaust plumes, plume‑induced base flows, recirculation zones, and multi‑body separation events. Quantify aerothermal, aerodynamic, and acoustic environments on the vehicle, inter‑stage, and ground support equipment.
Wind Tunnel Testing & Correlation:
Own the CFD‑to‑tunnel loop end to end: define test objectives, select facilities, design and specify tunnel models (including mounting, instrumentation, and scaling strategy), support model fabrication, participate in test campaigns, and lead post‑test data reduction.
Correlate wind tunnel pressure, force‑balance, schlieren, PSP/TSP, and heat‑transfer data against pre‑test CFD predictions. Identify and root‑cause discrepancies, tune turbulence and transition models, and build validated analysis methods.
Reconcile CFD and tunnel predictions against flight data from telemetry, surface sensors, and onboard cameras. Update the aerodatabase and modelling practices based on flight data.
Meshing, Automation & Cross‑Functional Support:
Build robust, reusable meshing workflows. Automate setup, run, and post‑processing pipelines to enable rapid parametric studies and design iteration.
Support the Propulsion Team on an as‑needed basis with internal‑flow CFD, including injectors, regenerative cooling channels, turbomachinery passages, feed‑system transients, and venting analysis.
Present CFD and tunnel results in design reviews with clear, defensible conclusions and honest uncertainty quantification.
Qualifications
Master's or Ph.D. with an aerodynamics, hypersonics, engineering physics or CFD focus greatly preferred.
3+ years of industry or research experience running production‑grade CFD on external aerodynamics, aerothermal, or high‑speed flow problems. Exceptional new graduates with heavy research or student‑team rocket experience will also be considered.
Strong fundamentals in compressible fluid dynamics, boundary‑layer theory, shock physics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics.
Hands‑on expertise with at least one industry‑standard CFD solver (ANSYS Fluent, Siemens STAR‑CCM+, CFX, or OpenFOAM), including meshing for complex external geometries, turbulence model selection, density‑based solvers, and transition modelling.
Hands‑on experience with wind tunnel testing: test planning, model design, instrumentation selection, data reduction, and correlation with CFD. Experience with any combination of subsonic, transonic, supersonic, or hypersonic facilities is valuable.
Proficient in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for analysis automation and post‑processing.
Solid CAD literacy (SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or similar) with the ability to clean, defeature, and repair outer mold line geometry for analysis and tunnel model fabrication.
Demonstrated ability to validate CFD against experimental or flight data and to reason clearly about numerical error, grid convergence, and model uncertainty.
Hands‑on engineering instinct: you have built, tested, or worked with physical hardware (student rocketry, FSAE, research labs, internships, personal projects).
Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to conduct independent research.
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