Aerodynamics Design Engineer

Harmattan AI, a defense technology company based in Lausanne, is hiring a Senior Aerodynamics Design Engineer to lead the development of next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles. The role requires expertise in aerodynamic design, CFD, and multi-fidelity analysis for fixed-wing, multicopter, and eVTOL platforms.

Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime focused on autonomous and scalable defense systems. The company is expanding its engineering teams to deliver mission-critical capabilities to allied forces. This role involves designing the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), serving as the technical anchor for flight physics and translating mission profiles into optimized airframe configurations. The engineer will work at the intersection of mechanical and guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) teams, bridging theoretical concepts with flight-ready hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead aerodynamic design for fixed-wing, multicopter, and eVTOL platforms, translating mission needs into technical specifications.
• Apply a range of numerical methods for aerodynamic analysis, from quick empirical models to high-fidelity CFD simulations, including potential and panel methods.
• Manage the full CFD workflow: preparing geometry, generating meshes, running solvers, and analyzing results.
• Use gradient-based or adjoint optimization techniques to improve airframe surfaces for reduced drag and higher lift-to-drag ratios.
• Create detailed aerodynamic databases and stability derivatives to support GNC team efforts in control law development and autopilot tuning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of aircraft architecture, systems integration, subsonic aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and low-Reynolds number flows.
• Demonstrated 'aerospace intuition'—ability to anticipate flow separation or stability issues without simulation.
• Experience collaborating with structural, propulsion, or GNC engineering teams.
• Practical experience with CFD solvers including OpenFOAM, ANSYS CFD Suite (Fluent/CFX), and Star-CCM+.
• Hands-on use of low-fidelity design tools such as OpenVSP, XFoil, AVL, XFLR5, and FlightStream.
• Experience with meshing software including Pointwise, HyperMesh, and ICEM CFD.
• Proficiency in CAD tools like SolidWorks and CATIA.
• Working knowledge of Python and libraries including NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, AeroSandbox, SMT, OpenMDAO, Matplotlib, Plotly, and PyVista.

Nice to have

• Experience building or piloting RC aircraft or drones.
• Familiarity with UAV airworthiness standards such as STANAG 4671 and flying qualities standards like MIL-STD-1797.

About the company

Harmattron AI emphasizes real-world impact, technical excellence, and tackling challenging engineering problems. The company operates in a high-pressure environment where precision, ownership, and execution are essential.

• Focus on technologies with tangible real-world impact.
• Commitment to excellence and ambitious technical goals.
• Expectation of rigor, ownership, and strong execution in a demanding environment.