Rotorcraft Flight-Dynamics Modeling and Simulation Engineer

About the role

AMA provides technical support to the U.S. Army’s Technology Development Directorate (TDD) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. This work supports the development, application, and advancement of high-fidelity modeling and simulation tools used in Army rotorcraft acquisition programs, both Future Vertical Lift (FVL) and enduring fleet upgrades.

Responsibilities

• Develop flight-dynamics models of modern vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft configurations, both crewed and uncrewed.
• Provide flight-dynamics modeling support to the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program office.
• Participate in FLRAA design reviews and keep abreast of flight-dynamics modeling needs for the FLRAA aircraft.
• Support the development, updating, and validation of both generic and specific physics-based models of the FLRAA tiltrotor.
• Develop proficiency with the HeliUM comprehensive modeling tool to enable the implementation of updates and enhancements needed to generate high-order linear models of advanced crewed and uncrewed vertical lift configurations.
• Develop proficiency with frequency-domain system identification techniques using CIFER needed to develop accurate linear models of modern and enduing configurations.
• Support an effort to develop a component-type model of the UH-60M based on an existing model of the UH-60A.
• Support the assessment and selection of the software development environment needed, the planning and implementation of the source code modifications, and the subsequent validation testing using flight data.
• Attend technical group meetings, branch meetings, design reviews, etc. and report project updates and activities.
• Communicate research results through technical presentations and written reports.

Requirements

• MS or PhD (preferred) in Aeronautics or Aerospace Engineering with experience in rotorcraft flight-dynamics modeling as part of research projects and activities (not coursework alone).
• A candidate with a BS degree having had direct research experience with items 2 and 3 below will be considered.
• Direct research experience (not coursework alone) with flight-dynamics models such as HeliUM, GenHel, FORECAST, or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Direct research experience (not training alone) with frequency-domain system identification for linear model development using tools such as CIFER is highly desirable.
• Education or relevant experience in the following areas would be a plus: rotorcraft real-time simulation; system modeling using Simulink.
• Software skills desirable: FORTRAN, C, MATLAB, Simulink.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Skills

• Flight-dynamics modeling
• System identification
• Rotorcraft real-time simulation
• System modeling using Simulink
• FORTRAN, C, MATLAB, Simulink

Benefits

Pay for this position is approximately $100,000 - $135,000 per year, commensurate with experience, and includes a competitive benefits package. Benefits include but not limited to:

• Paid personal and federally recognized holiday leave
• Salary deferrals into a 401(k)-matching plan with immediate vesting
• Tuition reimbursement
• Short/long term disability plans
• A variety of medical, dental, and vision insurance options