Aerothermal Engineer

Are you searching for impactful aerothermal work furthering innovative technologies, especially in the area of hypersonics?
Do you enjoy working with a team of forward-thinking engineers to improve our capability to predict advanced high-speed flow phenomena?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking an engineer to design and analyze aerothermal capabilities of new and existing precision engagement weapon systems. As a member of our team, you will contribute to exciting projects supporting several sponsors, including the U.S. Department of War (DoW). Our team strives to develop, apply, and maintain deep expertise in aerothermodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and ground and flight testing. You will work alongside experts who have a real passion for conducting research to advance our country's capabilities.

As an Aerothermal Engineer...

• You will conduct aerothermal analyses for hypersonic flight vehicles operating in high-temperature, high-enthalpy flow environments.
• You will apply high-fidelity CFD and multi-physics models to predict aerodynamic heating, boundary layer transition, shock interactions, and aerothermal loads.
• You will support the design, evaluation, and maturation of thermal protection systems (TPS), high-temperature materials, and thermal management technologies.
• You will analyze aerothermal interactions associated with air-breathing and rocket-based hypersonic propulsion systems.
• You will plan and conduct wind tunnel tests and perform post-test analysis. You will support associated test activities including pre-test predictions, test design, instrumentation requirements, and documentation.
• You will craft reports and presentations to communicate results to team members and government partners.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Have 5+ years of experience in conducting CFD simulations, running wind tunnel tests, or analyzing and developing aerothermal predictions.
• Have prior experience coding and using MATLAB scripts and functions.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Are willing and able to travel occasionally to attend meetings or tests at other government and contractor sites.
• Are able to obtain a Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have a M.S. or Ph.D degree or equivalent experience in weapon system design and development with a focus on aerothermodynamics.
• Have experience with CFD++, US3D, Kestrel, or other advanced DoW or commercial CFD codes, as well as experience generating high-quality CFD meshes using Pointwise, Link3D, GridPro, or other grid generation tool.
• Have strong programming skills in Bash (or similar shell equivalent) and/or Python.
• Have shown initiative, motivation, and flexibility.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please View email address on click.appcast.io.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.