Aerodynamicist

Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability
 
At Hypersonica, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.
 
By joining Hypersonica, you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously.
 
We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence.

What you'll do

- Own aerodynamic analysis of hypersonic vehicles, from early concept shaping through to flight test.

- Perform aerodynamic design and trade studies to shape vehicle configurations, working closely with the Systems, Structures, and Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) teams.

- Run computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations alongside fast engineering‑level methods to support rapid design decisions.

- Develop and maintain aerodynamic databases covering forces, moments, and control effectiveness across the flight envelope.

- Provide aerodynamic and aerothermal loads as inputs to structural, thermal, and flight dynamics analyses.

- Plan, specify, and support wind tunnel test campaigns, and use the results to validate and refine predictions.

- Correlate predictions with ground and flight test data, and feed lessons learned back into design and tools.

- Contribute to the development of in‑house aerodynamic tools and simulation workflows.

- Document methods, assumptions, and results to ensure traceability and configuration control.

Who you are

- A hands‑on Aerodynamicist with experience taking aerodynamic analysis from concept through to test or flight.

- Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, Physics (or related discipline); a postgraduate qualification in aerodynamics or fluid dynamics is a plus.

- Strong grounding in compressible aerodynamics and high‑speed flow.

- Experience with CFD tools (e.g. Ansys Fluent, STAR‑CCM+, OpenFOAM, SU2), including meshing, setup, and critical assessment of results.

- Programming skills (e.g. Python or MATLAB) for automation, data processing, and building aerodynamic models.

- Experience with wind tunnel testing or flight test data analysis is a strong advantage.

- Comfortable making sound engineering judgements with incomplete data in fast‑moving, prototype‑heavy environments.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.
 
Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential.
 
You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.