Staff Aerospace Engineer - Performance and Design

Job Summary

Responsibilities

Requirements

Qualifications

Skills

Benefits

Pay

Schedule

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. (ESAero) is seeking a full-time Staff Aerospace Engineer - Performance and Design, to join our team in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Responsibilities

• Conduct aircraft conceptual design and sizing studies.
• Analysis of aerodynamics, propulsion, flight performance, etc.
• Setting up and running vehicle and component optimizations.
• Perform analysis, simulation, and engineering trade studies to support design decisions.
• Research about technologies, analysis methods, standards, and regulations to guide aircraft design.
• Develop, test, and implement custom software-based design tools.
• Leads, manages, plans, and functions as the technical or subject matter expert.
• Identifies and executes continuous improvements.
• Drives end-to-end technical strategy and execution within area of specialization.
• Supports organizational learning through knowledge sharing, documentation, and training.
• Contributes to long-term strategic planning within the discipline.
• Clearly communicates engineering ideas, progress, and results using written reports and oral presentations to supervisors, project managers, and customers.
• Collaborates with team members to accomplish project goals in a timely fashion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or equivalent.
• 9+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python.
• Proficiency with aircraft flight performance analysis and conceptual design.
• Fundamental understanding of related disciplines including aerodynamics, aircraft stability & control, thermal analysis, structures, electronics, systems engineering, computational optimization, etc.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong writing & presentation skills.
• Willing to relocate to San Luis Obispo, CA.

Skills

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering or equivalent and/or 5+ years of experience.
• Experience with Simulink, Python, VBA, C++, and/or other coding languages.
• Experience with OpenVSP / VSPAERO, XFOIL, AVL, etc.
• Experience with CFD tools using Altair, OVERFLOW, or similar.
• Experience performing flight loads analysis.
• Experience setting up and running optimization tools.
• Experience using programming version control software such as Git.
• Experience with CAD modeling using SolidWorks or similar.
• Experience with requirements capture at the aircraft and/or systems level.
• Familiarity with the design of aircraft and common aircraft systems.
• Familiarity with eVTOL aircraft.
• Familiarity with civil and military regulations for fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
• Familiarity with electric vertical takeoff / landing (eVTOL) design concepts.
• Familiarity with the urban air mobility (UAM) market space.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
• Paid Time Off: Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hours accrued plus an additional 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
• Life Insurance: $25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with the option to purchase additional coverage for employees and their families.
• Supplemental Coverage: Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Work Environment: A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.
• Ideal Location: Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life - a perfect place to live, work, and play!

Pay

Hiring Range: $130-175k Salary/Exempt

Schedule

Full-time on-site position in San Luis Obispo, CA