Senior Aerodynamicist

Senior Aerodynamicist

Location: Oxford, Hybrid, flexible working hours

An innovative client decarbonising the aviation sector is looking for Senior Aerodynamicist to join their team.

You will be part of a friendly and welcoming team of passionate innovators, every single one making a real difference in the path towards the dream of clean, sustainable flight. We encourage healthy work-life balance by supporting flexible working hours and hybrid working from home. During times of testing there will be on-site requirements.

The successful candidate will be part of the design, development, integration and testing of VTOL drone flight control systems and hybrid energy distribution systems. The systems will need a control interface with the telemetry to monitor power electronics, power sources, sensors and motor invertor. You will be working on some cutting-edge technology!

Benefits:

• EMI share options

• 25 days + bank holidays (+1 per year of service up to a maximum of +5)

• 5 days carried forward, used within 6 months

• Enhanced sick leave

• Enhanced paternity/maternity leave

• Salary sacrifice pension scheme +5% company contribution

• Private Medical Insurance

• Group Life Insurance

• Group Critical Illness Insurance

• Group Income Protection Insurance

• Cash Plan for dental, optical etc.

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Up to £400/year reimbursement of professional registration fees

• Cycle to work scheme

• Shopping discounts

• Visa sponsorship and costs covered

Job summary

As Senior Aerodynamicist, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the aerodynamic design

and analysis of novel aerospace turbomachinery architectures. Your work will involve

developing solutions using preliminary design codes, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and

lab-scale validation testing to enhance overall system performance. This role requires

extensive experience in turbomachinery design, aerodynamic optimisation, proficiency with

industry-standard tools, and the ability to lead projects from concept through to validation.

Your responsibilities

• Lead aerodynamic design and optimisation of turbomachinery for aerospace systems.

• Design and develop compressors and turbines, from initial sizing through to testing.

• Conduct CFD simulations using software such as Ansys Fluent or OpenFOAM.

• Plan, manage, and execute turbomachinery testing.

• Analyse aerodynamic data to validate models and improve designs.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., propulsion, structures, control systems).

• Ensure designs comply with applicable aerospace regulations and standards.

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior team members.

• Support the development of proposals for funding and new projects.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Master’s Degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering,

Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

• Minimum 5 years combined academic and industry experience specialising in

aerodynamics.

• Proven experience in aerodynamic modelling and optimisation of turbomachinery

(preliminary design, CFD and testing).

• Proficiency in CFD tools such as Ansys Fluent or OpenFOAM.

• Hands-on experience with experimental validation.

• Strong understanding of performance factors and their influence at system level.

• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate technical

results clearly.

Desirable

• PhD in Aerodynamics or related discipline.

• Experience with radial and mixed flow turbines and compressors.

• Experience managing aerodynamics projects or teams.

• Familiarity with additive manufacturing processes applied to aerodynamic

components.

• Knowledge of aerospace standards (e.g. DO-160G).

Application Questions

Are you comfortable commuting to this job’s location?

Have you completed the following level of education: Master's Degree?

How many years of combined academic (e.g. PhD) and industry experience do you have?

Do you have hands-on experience designing, building and running compressor and turbine experiments?