Aerodynamics Testing Engineer

About Us

Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces.

Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected.

As an Aerodynamics Testing Engineer at Harmattan, you will bridge the gap between theoretical simulations and physical reality. You will be responsible for validating the flight physics of our next-generation UAV platforms—ranging from long-endurance fixed-wing aircraft to high-speed eVTOLs.

Your mission is to design, execute, and analyze experimental campaigns that ensure our aircraft are efficient, stable, and safe. You will utilise rapid prototyping techniques to transform aerodynamic concepts into flight-ready prototypes and ground testing mock-ups, closing the loop between CFD predictions and real-world performance.

You will work in close collaboration with the Mechanical (Meca) team to design and manufacture custom testing rigs and instrumented prototypes, ensuring that aerodynamic concepts are translated into robust, testable hardware.

Responsibilities

• Rapid Airframe Fabrication: Design and manufacture prototypes using foam (CNC, hot wire), 3D printing, laser cutting and/or composites to iterate on aerodynamic shapes.

• Flight Test Leadership: Lead flight test campaigns for fixed-wing and eVTOL platforms; define test cards and safety protocols to extract aerodynamic data and perform flight log analysis for model validation and system identification.

• Wind Tunnel & Ground Testing: Design and execute wind tunnel experiments and static thrust tests, including the fabrication of instrumented scale models and the development of automated DAQ rigs to characterize propulsion efficiency and airframe performance.

• Data Validation & ADB: Correlate simulation data with experimental results to improve model accuracy. Generate comprehensive Aerodynamic Databases (ADB) to characterize vehicle performance across the full flight envelope.

• Instrumentation & DAQ: Select and integrate sensors (Pitot-static systems, alpha/beta vanes, load cells) into prototypes. Develop software to control automated test rigs and synchronize high-speed Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems.

• Flight Log Analysis: Perform deep-dive analysis of flight logs to extract performance metrics, power consumption profiles, and stability derivatives.

Requirements

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on experimental fluid dynamics or flight testing.

• Prototyping & Manufacturing: Hands-on experience with CNC hot-wire foam cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing and/or composites. Ability to design for rapid fabrication.

• Experimental Rigor: Extensive background in planning and executing aerodynamic experiments. You know how to isolate variables and ensure data quality in noisy, real-world environments.

• Software Proficiency: the ideal candidate must have hands-on experience with the following stack, or similar alternatives:

  • Data Science: Expert in Python (NumPy, SciPy, Pandas) for processing large-scale experimental datasets and automated report generation.

  • Visualization: Proficiency with Matplotlib, Plotly, or Seaborn for aerodynamic data visualization.

  • DAQ & Automation: Experience with LabVIEW, MATLAB/Simulink, or Python-based hardware interfacing (e.g., PyVISA, nidaqmx, pyserial).

  • CAD: Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks or CATIA for the design of complex test benches and wind tunnel fixtures.

Nice-to-Have

• Pilot Experience: Radio Control (RC) flight experience.

• ML & Surrogate Modeling: Knowledge of Machine Learning or Reduced Order Models (ROMs) for the creation of Aerodynamic Databases

• System Identification: Experience with Aerodynamic system identificaton techniques to validate aircraft performance models using flight data.

We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.