{"id":2987598,"url":"https://alion.io/job/natilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer","title":"Aerodynamics and Performance Engineer","company":{"id":2424366,"name":"Natilus","domain":"natilus.co","url":"https://alion.io/company/natilus","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":null},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Diego, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":120000,"max":170000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":170000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"OpenFOAM","optional":false},{"name":"STAR-CCM+","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-20","last_verified_at":"2026-11-11T15:00:49Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":83,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":83},"description":"Natilus is building the next generation of aviation through the development of blended-wing-body aircraft, delivering a step-change in overall efficiency. Our growing family of aircraft is designed to make air travel more sustainable while fundamentally improving the economics of commercial flight and the operational effectiveness of defense logistics.\nBy combining advanced aerodynamics with innovative design, Natilus aircraft achieve exceptional fuel efficiency, increased payload capacity, and seamless compatibility with existing airport infrastructure. With hundreds of aircraft valued in the billions of dollars already on order, we are redefining how aircraft are designed, built, and operated, representing a meaningful evolution in modern aviation\nWork Summary:\nNatilus is seeking an Aerodynamics & Performance Engineer to join our team in San Diego, CA. In this role, you will conduct CFD analysis and support low- and high-speed wind tunnel testing. You will help lead aerodynamic optimization, vehicle design decisions, and performance prediction across the Natilus family of aircraft.\n\nMain Responsibilities:\nSet up and perform component and vehicle level CFD analyses.\nAuthor and release analysis reports.\nPlanning, support, and execution of wind tunnel tests.\nPlanning and support of aerodynamic design optimization studies.\nPerform comparative analyses of predicted aerodynamics with experimental and/or flight test data.\nLead method and tool development and enhancement activities.\nManage large, complex project initiatives of substantial importance to the organization with minimal oversight or direction.\nStrong understanding of Applied Aerodynamics theory is required.\nStrong understanding of Computational Fluid Dynamics and numerical methods.\nRequirements\nA minimum of 7 years of directly related work experience\nBachelor of Science in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering or equivalent work experience\nExperience performing aerodynamic analysis using CFD methods\nProficiency with CFD tools (e.g., Fun3D, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or similar)\nExperience with low-speed and/or high-speed wind tunnel testing, including test planning and data reduction\nUnderstanding of aerodynamic theory, including subsonic and transonic flows\nExperience with aerodynamic optimization and design trade studies\nAbility to support vehicle performance prediction and design decision-making\nFamiliarity with aircraft or vehicle configuration development and integration\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills\nUnderstanding of Part 23 requirements \nCore Behaviors:\nBuild trust through ownership, transparency, and follow-through\nCommunicates clearly, directly, and respectfully across teams\nLead by example and model expected behaviors\nAbility to give and receive direct, constructive feedback\nComfortable operating in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with evolving priorities\nTravel Requirements:\nOccasional travel and on-site work at the local hangar may be required\nCompensation\nThe expected salary range for this position is $120,000 to $170,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and business needs.\nBenefits\nHealth Care Plan (Medica, Dental, Vision)\nRetirement Plan - 401k\nUnlimited PTO\nOnsite Gym Access\nNatilus Inc. hires solely based on qualifications, merit and competence. Natilus Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Natilus Inc. does not hire on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.\nPlease note: Recruiters will never ask for sensitive personal or financial information during the application phase","description_format":"text","description_chars":3811,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Retirement plans","Unlimited PTO"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Aerospace Manufacturing","Aircraft Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T08:51:31Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":10,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.362,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":83,"expected_fill_days":30,"reasons":["conf:5","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-11T05:49:22Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":170000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/natilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/natilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-11T20:17:53Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":39632,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-12T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2424366},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2424366"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnatilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":2,"usd":0.2},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnatilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnatilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/natilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnatilus-aerodynamics-and-performance-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":2987598}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"natilus.co","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":2987598},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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