Propulsion Inlet Design Engineer

Job description

**ABOUT US:** Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government. **WHO WE ARE:** We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy. **WHO YOU ARE:** - A senior aerospace engineer with expertise in inlet design and propulsion–airframe integration for high-speed aircraft - A self-directed engineer who thrives in ambiguous, highly coupled design environments - Comfortable owning complex subsystems end-to-end, from early analytical trade studies through detailed CFD and system-level integration **WHAT YOU’LL DO:** - Lead the design, analysis, and integration of supersonic air inlet systems for highly coupled propulsion–airframe configurations - Develop and apply analytical methods, reduced-order models, and CFD to guide inlet architecture selection and performance trade studies - Evaluate inlet performance metrics including mass flow capture, pressure recovery, flow distortion, and operability across the flight envelope - Work closely with propulsion, airframe, and systems engineers to resolve inlet–engine integration challenges such as bleed systems, secondary flows, and transient behavior - Provide technical leadership and independent judgment in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary aerospace design environment **WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:** - 5+ years of experience in the design and analysis of air inlet systems - Experience with supersonic inlet architectures, including axisymmetric spike inlets, two-dimensional inlets, and external/internal compression concepts - Strong background in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applied to internal flows - Experience assessing inlet–engine operability and integration issues, including distortion, bleed management, and transient behavior - Proven ability to work independently and drive technically rigorous solutions in highly coupled propulsion–airframe designs **THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD** - Be comfortable owning complex subsystems end-to-end, from early analytical trade studies through detailed CFD and system-level integration - Have demonstrated expertise in the design and analysis of supersonic air inlet systems for high-speed aircraft **PERKS & BENEFITS:** - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan - Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time - Flexible work environment **ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:** At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.