Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is a supplier of advanced electromagnetic systems, related power equipment and other high technology products for a variety of government and commercial applications. These include products such as the design and fabrication of linear motors, superconducting and conventional rotating motors, power inverters, high-energy capacitors, radiation monitoring systems, high-voltage direct current power distribution systems, and numerous other products.

We have an exciting opportunity in our Aerospace Systems Engineering Directorate. This full-time position for a Senior Flight Dynamics engineer can be located at our Huntsville, AL site. This position will provide technical expertise for Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis and design and development for one or more weapon system projects.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports design, development, and analysis of precision munitions such as guided missiles, gun-launched projectiles, and hypersonic weapon systems as a contributing engineer, Integrated Production Team (IPT) subsystem lead, or other team lead role.
• Develops Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using Pointwise and ANSA meshing software and Loci/CHEM and other (DPLR, Fluent, Star CCM, etc.) flow solvers in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment.
• Leads wind tunnel test efforts to include wind tunnel model procurement, wind tunnel facility coordination, test planning and execution, and post-test data reduction and analysis.
• Develops aerodynamic models for 6-DoF simulations based on analytical (CFD, engineering level tools) or empirical (wind tunnel) data.
• Performs engineering level aerodynamic predictions using tools including Missile DATCOM and the Aeroprediction code.
• Performs aeroheating analyses using CFD tools in conjunction and coordination with mechanical thermal analysts.
• Supports propulsion subsystem design, development and analysis activities for solid rocket motors, ramjets/scramjets, gas turbine engines, and spacecraft propulsion.
• Leads and mentors teams of less experienced engineers on complex development efforts.
• Develops and presents briefing materials for design reviews, customer presentations, peer reviews, and other high visibility meetings.
• Supports peer reviews of simulation models, analysis results, and other work products as required.
• Facilitates rapid resolution of delays that impact simulation and analysis tasks including real-time, thorough communication with task leads, program management and other leadership is required.
• Collaborates daily with GA and customer engineering and program management teams.
• Supports development of Flight Dynamics related data deliverables.
• Supports concept development activities and creation of proposals and technical white papers.
• Performs other duties as required.
• Travel expectations: <20%

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree or PhD in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering with an emphasis on application of guidance, navigation, and control techniques from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; 9 or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, 7 or more years of experience with a master's degree, 4 or more years of experience with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a thorough understanding of CFD tools, aerodynamics and propulsion and principles, and HPC resources.
• Prior experience with developing and using high fidelity flight simulations of missiles, projectiles or hypersonic vehicles is required.
• Must demonstrate strong programming and analysis capability in multiple languages such as Python, MATLAB, etc.
• Must possess the ability to develop and communicate new concepts; apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one or more engineering areas.
• Must have an active Department of Defense (DoD) Secret level security clearance, with the ability to upgrade to Top Secret if required.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Success in position requires consistent display of the following key abilities:
  • Strong initiative - Ability and desire to work closely with a small to medium sized multi-disciplinary team to rapidly develop and mature a new weapon system.
  • Excellent communication - The successful candidate will routinely document, develop, and present technical briefings, reports, and other documentation so that stakeholders across the organization readily understand the content and their related actions.
  • Rapid and effective problem solving - The successful candidate will identify issues, analyze and interpret data and develop innovative solutions to a variety of complex problems in a quick and orderly fashion to meet short timelines for work product completion.
  • Schedule performance - influencing and collaborating across the organization to result in contract schedule success.

Desired Job Qualifications

• Experience with developing or modifying CFD solver software tools is strongly desired.
• Experience with flight testing and pre-/post-test analysis of guided munitions (missiles, projectiles, etc.) is desired.
• Experience with propulsion (especially solid rocket motors, ramjets, scramjets) design, development, analysis, and testing is desired.