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Principal Aerodynamicist

External
atropos logoAtropos · Arlington, Canada
Full-timeOn-site1mo ago30+ days old, may be filled
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About the role

We're a combat-tested group of engineers, operators, and entrepreneurs who believe America's edge depends on autonomous airpower that's trusted and deployable today not in 2040. Backed by tier-one investors, we've secured the runway - financial, regulatory, and literal - to move at startup speed while tackling a national-security mission that matters. We've structured the company for radical ownership: no silos, no "systems integrator" overhead, just tightly knit mission-focused IPTs that live and breathe the hardware and code they ship. If you thrive where hard-tech ambition meets national-security urgency, you'll build faster here than anywhere else. Let's get after it. Culture That Ships Strong Core Values, Startup Execution. Integrity, Service Before Self, Excellence, Honor, Courage, Commitment-powered by a bias for action and a "figure it out" mindset. Self-Starters Only. You'll have clear objectives, a blank sheet of paper, and the trust (plus capital) to move fast. Bureaucracy stays out of your way. One Team, No Tourists. Whether you're tuning a control law at 2 a.m. or heat-treating a Ti-6Al-4V spar, everyone sweats the details. We celebrate wins together and own failures together.

Responsibilities

  • Lead aerodynamic design, analysis, and wind-tunnel/CFD correlation for a clean-sheet, long-range autonomous air vehicle.
  • Optimize planform, airfoil, and high-lift devices to maximize range and payload while meeting survivability constraints.
  • Create rapid-iteration tools and templates for sizing trades.
  • Collaborate daily with GNC, Flight Controls, and Structures IPTs to mature configuration through CoDR/PDR/CDR.
  • Support flight-test envelope expansion and post-flight data reduction.
  • What You Bring
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent) with ≥ 7 yrs relevant experience.
  • Deep expertise in CFD (e.g., SU2, Fluent, OVERFLOW), panel methods, and wind-tunnel test design.
  • Demonstrated history of hands-on, first-principles analysis in rapid-development programs.
  • Ability to convey complex results to cross-functional audiences.
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance.
  • Bonus Points
  • Prior LO (low observables) signature shaping experience.
  • Experience coupling aerodynamics with AI-enabled design-of-experiments workflows.
  • Why You'll Love Working Here (Compensation and Benefits)
  • Base Salary: $195,000 to 255,000 USD
  • Platinum Healthcare Benefits: Atropos offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with 100% employer-paid premiums and little to no cost to you
  • Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Atropos, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents
  • Unlimited PTO, with minimum of 15 days enforced
  • 20 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave to care for a family member, bond with your baby, or tend to your own medical condition
  • Family Planning & Parenting Support: Fertility (eg, IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carrier coverage with additional benefits and resources to provide support from planning to parenting
  • Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy, life coaching, and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, available to you as well
  • Tuition and professional development reimbursement for STEM, MBA, and licenses
  • Daily Lunch catered
  • Company-funded child care stipend
  • Company-funded commuter benefits available based on your region.
  • Relocation assistance (depending on role eligibility).
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan - both a traditional and Roth 401(k). 6% employer matching contribution
  • The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.
  • Atropos is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Atropos team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals. All qualif

Benefits

Mission With a Pulse. Every line of code, bracket, or test you deliver expands the toolbox of the warfighter on Day 1 of a conflict.Resources Without Red Tape. VC speed + DoD customer pull: access to test ranges, flight hours, and operator feedback while retaining startup agility.Career-Defining Upside. Significant equity, best-in-class benefits, and the chance to see your product deliver in months, not decades.Health insuranceDental insuranceVision insurance401(k)Paid time offEquity / stock optionsPerformance bonus

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