Staff Aerodynamics Engineer

At Wisk, we're transforming the future of urban mobility through safe, all-electric, autonomous flight. We are a passionate team working together toward a sustainable future, solving high-impact problems that have never been solved before. By delivering everyday flight for everyone, we're making it possible to spend less time getting there and more time being there. If you want to be part of shaping the future of mobility, then read on!

We are looking for a Staff Aerodynamics Engineer to join our Aerodynamic Analysis Team. The goal of an Aerodynamics Engineer at Wisk is to ensure that our vehicle performs as safely and efficiently as possible. You will be part of the Aerodynamic Analysis team that is responsible for the aerodynamic design of the aircraft, creation of the aerodynamic database, and execution of design trade studies to maximize performance of our vehicle. 

This is a hybrid work opportunity. At Wisk, this means working onsite at our Mountain View office 3 days per week with flexibility for the remainder of the days.

Responsibilities

• As part of the Gen 6 aircraft team, you will act as a Staff Aerodynamics Engineer for a novel type of aircraft development targeting the autonomous UAM market. 

• You will develop and run Computational Fluid Dynamics models

• You will use existing model definition to create and modify CFD meshes for time-accurate, blade resolved models of the Gen 6 aircraft.

• You will develop and maintain high-fidelity models of the Wisk Gen 6 Aircraft using industry best practices

• You will support aerodynamic shape optimization for airframe components to maximize range and minimize noise signatures

• You will take part in validating CFD results against flight test data from our Gen 6 aircraft, wind tunnel experiments, and lower-fidelity analytical tools.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering or related fields

• Requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience

• Experience with rotorcraft performance and the theories associated with propeller and rotor-driven propulsion

• You have applied knowledge of blade-resolved, time-accurate CFD codes

• Highly experienced with steady and unsteady RANS solvers

• Highly experienced with NASA OVERFLOW solver and associated gridding tools

• Knowledge of optimization frameworks utilizing adjoint-based methods, surrogate modeling, or similar methods

• Experience scripting with Python or MATLAB

• Experience with scripting routines and best practices used for CFD analysis automation and post-processing

• Experience flight matching Aero Databases with experimental test data, and validating Aero Databases against flight test and wind tunnel data.   

Desired

• Experience with HELIOS computational software framework

• Familiarity with Siemens NX CAD software

• Familiarity with PointWise or similar meshing tools

• Experience with high performance computing systems

• Familiarity with rotorcraft aeroacoustics

Job Type: Full-time

Pay range the company expects to pay: $161,000 - $201,000 per year - The starting base salary within this range for this role varies based on factors such as your geographical location, and your relevant job-related experience that is consistent with a business necessity.

Wisk HQ is located in Mountain View just a couple of hundred feet from Shoreline Lake and its surrounding walking/jogging trails. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 9 off Fridays for full-time employees throughout the year, flexible vacation time off, 11 company holidays, a 401(k) plan with 50% company matching vested immediately, commuter assistance, and education assistance. And on top of all that, we also offer a variety of perks such as free catered lunches, flight lessons, wellness allowances, snacks, drinks, employee referral bonus, charitable giving match, patent bonus program, and more.