Aerodynamics Engineering Lead, Blades - Maneuver Dominance

Company: Tbwa Chiat/Day Inc
Location: Costa Mesa
Posted on: January 24, 2025

Job Description:

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.WHY WE'RE HERE:The Maneuver Dominance (MD) Team at Anduril develops aerial robotic systems designed to operate in large coordinated teams. We leverage existing Anduril drone platforms like Ghost, Altius, or Roadrunner, in addition to bringing 3rd party platforms into Anduril's Lattice ecosystem. We develop perception and autonomy algorithms to solve some of the hardest problems facing our customers.Anduril Industries is looking for an Aerodynamics Engineering Lead for our Maneuver Dominance Division. This individual will be pivotal in leading the development of state-of-the-art rotor systems, blades and other lifting surfaces for vertical flight solutions, with a focus on autonomous aerial platforms designed for defense applications.WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Assemble and lead an aerodynamics team focused on the design and analysis of aerodynamic lifting surfaces
• Develop and qualify advanced aerodynamic design and analysis toolsets for rotor sizing and optimization, as well as detailed airfoil and blade OML development.
• This role will ideally require both analysis and design experience and aptitude.
• Support the modeling and simulation team's development of various 6DOF models through the development of aerodynamic tables.
• Define airfoil geometry, performance and optimization to support the demanding design objectives.
• Integrate blade aerodynamic design processes with structural and systems engineering teams.
• Conduct aerodynamic performance predictions, stability analyses, and handling quality assessments for various vehicle concepts and rotor systems.
• Navigate the team through design reviews (PDR and CDR), focusing on aerodynamic definition, performance, loads, stability, structural integration, and ultimately through design release and manufacturing.
• Plan and support wind tunnel and flight test campaigns, including data analysis and model validation.
• Drive ongoing design evolutions based on test results, operational feedback, and technological advancements.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSThe ideal candidate will possess a blend of technical acumen and strategic insight, coupled with a history of managing intricate aerospace endeavors. Your leadership will be instrumental in propelling the Maneuver Dominance Division to new heights, delivering unparalleled solutions to our defense partners.
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on aerodynamics.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in rotorcraft or eVTOL aerodynamics, with a strong background in rotor sizing and optimization, and blade design.
  • Proficiency in aerodynamic analysis tools for airfoil development, including 2-D panel codes and 3-D CFD software including codes like STAR CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, Fun3D, and OpenFOAM.
  • Demonstrated experience with rotor-specific analysis tools such as CHARM, CAMRAD II, or RCAS for sizing and loads, as well as coupled CFD-CSD approaches using Helios w/ Overflow + RCAS, or Dymore.
  • Proven track record of technical leadership in aerodynamics through the entire design and development process.
  • Strong project management skills and experience with cross-disciplinary team collaboration.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
    • Advanced degree in a relevant field.
    • Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
    • Experience with aero-acoustic analysis and noise reduction techniques for rotorcraft and eVTOL vehicles.
    • Familiarity with design for manufacturability, especially involving composite materials and processes.
    • Knowledge and experience applying military specifications and standards in the development of defense-related aerospace projects. Experience w/ Military Airworthiness.
    • Pilot or exposure to flight testing.US Salary Range: $170,000 - $255,000 USD. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
      • Platinum Healthcare Benefits: For U.S. roles, we offer top tier platinum coverage (medical, dental, vision) that are 100% covered by Anduril for you and 90% covered for your dependents.
      • Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Anduril, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
      • Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in December, and highly competitive PTO plans.
      • 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition.
      • Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting.
      • Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well.
      • A professional development stipend is available to all Andurilians.
      • Daily Meals and Provisions: For many of our offices this means breakfast, lunch and fully stocked micro-kitchens.
      • Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
      • Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
      • 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). (US roles only)The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.Anduril is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Anduril team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!
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Keywords: Tbwa Chiat/Day Inc, Los Angeles , Aerodynamics Engineering Lead, Blades - Maneuver Dominance, Engineering , Costa Mesa, California