Astro Mechanica
Propulsion Inlet Design Engineer
About this role
Astro Mechanica seeks a senior aerospace engineer to lead the design and analysis of supersonic inlet systems for advanced propulsion-airframe configurations. You'll own complex subsystems end-to-end, applying CFD and analytical methods to optimize inlet performance while collaborating across propulsion and airframe teams.
What you'll do
- Design and integrate supersonic air inlet systems for coupled propulsion-airframe configurations
- Develop analytical methods and CFD models to guide inlet architecture selection and performance trade studies
- Evaluate inlet performance across the flight envelope including mass flow, pressure recovery, and flow distortion
- Resolve inlet-engine integration challenges such as bleed systems and transient behavior
- Provide technical leadership and independent judgment in multidisciplinary design environment
- Execute end-to-end subsystem ownership from early trades through detailed analysis and integration
What they're looking for
- Inlet system design and analysis (5+ years)
- Supersonic inlet architectures (spike inlets, 2D inlets, compression concepts)
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for internal flows
- Inlet-engine operability and integration assessment
- Propulsion-airframe integration
- Analytical modeling and reduced-order models
- Systems engineering and technical leadership
- Independent problem-solving in coupled design environments
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA
- 401(k) program and transparent stock options
- Flexible time-off policy including PTO and paid holidays
- Flexible work environment
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Astro Mechanica
Astro Mechanica develops advanced supersonic aircraft as a vertically integrated aerospace startup. The company is hiring flight software engineers, mechanical integration engineers, avionics engineers, GNC engineers, and software engineers to build control systems, propulsion avionics, design optimization tools, and systems that span structures, propulsion, and flight sciences.
View all jobs at Astro MechanicaLikely interview questions
- Walk us through a supersonic inlet design you've led end-to-end—what were the key performance trade-offs between mass flow capture, pressure recovery, and operability?
- Describe your experience with CFD analysis of inlet internal flows. What tools have you used, and how do you validate your models against experimental data?