Aerodynamics Engineer

Aerodynamics Engineer (CFD)

TeleBortiX · Bengaluru · Full-time · 4 to 9 years of experience

About TeleBortiX

TeleBortiX is a robotics company. We build heavy-lift unmanned aircraft. The company has full funding at the pre-seed stage.

We are a small team. Each engineer has full control of a technical area.

We measure results, not hours. The work schedule is flexible. You get unlimited paid leave, if you complete your deliverables.

The company will grow quickly. Your scope and your level can grow at the same time.

The role

You will control the external aerodynamics of our aircraft. You will do the analysis. You will also make the design decisions that come from the analysis.

The three tasks are in order of importance.

1. Operate the CFD tools

• Prepare the geometry.
• Make the mesh.
• Set up the solver.
• Select the turbulence model.
• Do the convergence checks and the mesh-independence checks.
• Do the post-processing.
• Examine the results.

You must know when a result is correct. You must also know when a result is not correct.

2. Improve one part of the aircraft

Select one feature of the aircraft. Examples are a wing, a wing-body junction, an elevon, a rotor, a propeller, a cooling inlet, or a sensor fairing.

Then do these steps:

1. Give a numerical target for the improvement.
2. Do the CFD studies.
3. Change the design until the aircraft has the target value.

Usual targets are the drag, the lift-to-drag ratio, the stall margin, the transition behaviour, the cooling mass flow, or the propeller-wash effects.

Report the design change and the number. Do not report only the study.

3. Control the aerodynamic design

Subsequently, you will control the configuration decisions and the sizing decisions:

• the airfoil selection
• the planform
• the control-surface sizing
• the stability margins
• the neutral point and the CG envelope
• the aircraft performance

You will do the full loop: first the geometry, then the analysis, then a change to the geometry.

You will work with the structures group, the propulsion group and the flight-control group. On our aircraft, an aerodynamic decision always has an effect on other systems.

Necessary qualifications

• A degree in aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineering or mechanical engineering. As an alternative, show equivalent ability with a portfolio, with published work, or with a product that you delivered.
• 4 to 9 years of experience in aerodynamic analysis. You must use CFD each day.
• Good knowledge of one CFD software: OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, STAR-CCM+ or an equivalent. This includes the mesh and the turbulence models.
• The ability to calculate from first principles. Do the estimate before the simulation. Then compare the solver result with the physics.
• Proof that your analysis caused a design change. We will ask what you changed. We will also ask the quantity of the change.
• The ability to work in a small team, with a large scope and a fast schedule.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with UAVs, drones, VTOL aircraft or eVTOL aircraft. This is the most important preferred qualification.
• Experience with low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics.
• Experience with panel methods and vortex-lattice methods for quick studies. Examples are OpenVSP, VSPAERO and XFLR5.
• Experience with rotor aerodynamics and propeller aerodynamics. This includes actuator-disk models, blade-element models and propeller-wash effects.
• Experience with stability derivatives, control derivatives, trim and performance calculations.
• The ability to write scripts that automate a set of studies. Use Python, MATLAB or a shell language.
• Experience with wind-tunnel tests or flight tests. You must know how to compare a model with test data.
• Experience with flight dynamics models and simulation. Examples are JSBSim and ArduPilot SITL.

How we work

This role has two parts. You will make high-level decisions about the aircraft. You will also do practical work in the workshop, at the test bench and during the test campaign.

If you want to give your analysis to a different group and then stop, do not apply for this role.

We want engineers who are versatile. We want engineers who take control of a problem. We want engineers who like machines.

Interview process

There are two interviews.

Interview 1 continues for approximately 60 minutes. It has three parts:

• 10 minutes: the introductions.
• 40 minutes: a technical discussion and a live tool test.
• 10 minutes: your questions.

For the live tool test, use any CFD software or CAD software that you select. Share your screen. We do not want your files. The test shows your ability only.

Interview 2 is a longer technical discussion. It also includes the scope of the role, the level and the salary.

Before interview 1, send a short portfolio of your work. Select projects that show your personal contribution and your results.

How to apply

Apply with your CV and/or a short portfolio.

In your application, answer these three questions:

1. Which aerodynamic problem did you solve
2. What did you change
3. Which number shows the improvement