Aerodynamics Engineer

About PLD:

Founded in 2011, PLD Space is a high-tech engineering, manufacturing and service-driven company, with deep track record and expertise in space launch technologies.

We are a trusted global championing industry leader disrupting the pathway to space access. We are on a mission to reach new heights by making space more accessible, supporting missions that will make us smarter, safer and wealthier.

Our purpose is to propel new futures, to enable progress from space and enrich peoples’ lives on Earth, by moving new economies, people and world forward.

Mission

As an aerodynamics engineer your mission is to predict aerodynamic environments, in ascent and re-entry phase, while providing design solutions for MIURA 1 and MIURA 5 launch vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Building Computational Fluid Dynamic meshes for aerodynamic force and moment predictions (including creating geometries, meshing, running simulations, validating, and post processing output information).
• Analyse External Aerodynamics of Launch Vehicles and Optimize Launch Vehicles’ geometries from a fluidic perspective.
• Correlation of Flight Test Data and wind tunnel test data to CFD Models.
• Development, analysis and validation of in-house software to predict launcher vehicles performance.
• Contribute performing heat transfer and associated aerothermodynamics analysis on various mission phases, including atmospheric re-entry scenarios.
• Help selecting proper sensor and data acquisition systems for capturing aerodynamic data and model correlation.

Necessary Requirements

• BSc in Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of industry experience.
• Knowledge and experience with commercial CFD software, such as ANSYS.
• Knowledge and experience modelling external aerodynamics, both subsonic and supersonic.
• Knowledge and experience with structural load estimation and calculation via CFD analysis.
• Proficiency with programming languages, such as Matlab.
• Strong background in fluid mechanics and maths.
• Experience in modelling physical behaviour through mathematical models.
• Knowledge of CFD best practices and troubleshooting.

Desired Requirements

• English
• Stress Tolerance
• Problem solving
• Multitasking
• Results-oriented
• Workload capacity
• Autonomy

Valued Competencies

• Experience with Wind Tunnel Testing is a plus.
• Experience in acoustics and aeroelasticity.
• Experience in combustion and phase change simulations.
• Experience with Unsteady Aerodynamic Simulations is a plus, URANS, LES, DNS.
• Knowledge and experience with coupled fluid structure interaction flows.
• Experience in supersonic flow.
• Experience with reactive flows, injection, and atomization processes is a plus.
• Knowledge of thermal modelling and simulation tools.
• Knowledge and experience in aerodynamic re-entry analysis and simulations.

Benefits

Health & Wellness: We want you to be happy and healthy in body and mind. We encourage you to have regular physiotherapy sessions at our facilities so that you can continue with your physical activities.

We offer partial coverage of your medical scheme covering you, your spouse or partner, and your children.

Boost your creativity: Focus. Energy. Yummy snacks and those fizzy waters you love. It takes a lot to be creative all day, but we’ve got you covered. Eat local, sustainable, delectable fare at our cafes, and plunder our pantries for fresh fruit and other goodies whenever you need a boost.

Engineering by doing: We encourage hands-on learning and foster internal mobility and team collaboration, with one-third of positions filled by current employees and one in five people promoted each year.

Find balance: PLD Space offers 23 days of annual leave, 6 global wellbeing days, and public holidays. We prioritize work-life balance with flexible schedules, empowering teams to manage their own hours. We work hard here, so we encourage taking breaks to recharge, ensuring a healthy work environment.

Never stop learning: At PLD Space, education and professional development is a priority. We offer extensive learning opportunities, from conferences and webinars to higher education programs and technical certifications.

Focus on your financial future: Flexible remuneration plan lets you allocate part of your salary to everyday expenses like lunch, nursery school or public transport, which are exempt from Personal Income Tax (IRPF) when paid through this system.

Values

We have four critical beliefs that guide the way PLD Space is shaping the future of space launch technologies.

• Teamwork.
• Hard work.
• Dynamism.
• Commitment.
• Keep it simple.

Become part of our movement, enabling you to make change happen in your career and, above all, your life.