Cfd Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Haast Autonomous is building an autonomous aircraft network for time-sensitive medical logistics. We’re developing long-range VTOL aircraft, autonomy software, and the operational foundation needed to move critical payloads between hospitals, labs, and healthcare facilities on-demand faster and more reliably.

We’re early, small, and moving quickly. Joining now means you'll have a direct role in shaping the foundation of Haast — our culture, engineering process, testing discipline, partner relationships, and the path from prototype to a real medical logistics network.

We’re looking for high-agency people who want ownership, urgency, and system-level impact from day one.

At Haast, Aerospace Engineers bridge the gap between aircraft physics, design simulation, flight-test planning, and real-world data.

We want every prototype, simulation, and flight test to teach us something valuable.

• Lead the initial conceptualization and design of aircraft based on core design requirements

• Build and maintain performance models for aircraft prototypes

• Analyze range, endurance, climb, cruise, stall speed, stability, control authority, and payload tradeoffs

• Support sizing, configuration, and design trade decisions

• Integrate design for manufacturing principles to ensure aircraft components are practical, efficient, and ready for real-world production and assembly.

• Create and refine 3D aircraft models using CAD tools

• Perform CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations and FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to evaluate aerodynamic and structural performance

• Use tools like XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, MATLAB, Python, JSBSim, Gazebo, or similar simulation and modeling platforms

• Support SITL/HITL workflows with ArduPilot, PX4, or similar systems

• Create flight-test cards, test plans, success criteria, and post-test summaries

• Analyze flight logs to compare true aircraft behavior with predictions

• Diagnose issues—whether aerodynamic, controls, structure, propulsion, sensors, or operations

• Transform flight data into actionable engineering improvements

• Collaborate closely with mechanical, avionics, controls, and operations teams

• Document your assumptions, models, results, and engineering decisions

• Help lay the modeling, test, and validation foundation for a scalable autonomous aircraft network

• Deep understanding of aircraft performance, stability, flight mechanics, and test planning

• Experience with UAVs, fixed-wing, VTOL, or flight-test programs

• Strong proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, or similar)

• Hands-on experience with CFD (ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, etc.) and FEA for aircraft analysis

• Track record of using simulation and analysis to drive real-world hardware and design choices

• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar data analysis tools

• Comfortable with tools like XFLR5, OpenVSP, AVL, JSBSim, Gazebo, or other aerospace simulation tools

• Able to interpret flight logs and extract actionable conclusions

• Practical engineering judgment regarding assumptions, uncertainty, and model limitations

• Able to develop straightforward, practical test plans for rapid learning

• Startup-ready: thrive in a fast-paced environment where models must meet reality fast

• Hands-on with ArduPilot, PX4, MAVLink, Mission Planner, or QGroundControl

• Experience with SITL/HITL simulation for UAVs

• Insights into fixed-wing VTOL transition dynamics

• Background in propulsion modeling, propeller selection, battery sizing, or hybrid-electric aircraft

• Familiarity with CFD, wind tunnel, scale models, or flight-test instrumentation

• Experience in FAA test environments, BVLOS, aviation safety documentation, or risk analysis

• First month: Understand the aircraft configuration, build a baseline model with real data, and establish immediate test objectives

• Three months: Create a fast feedback loop—models, logs, and hardware changes work in sync, driving smarter next steps and better prototypes

• The output we care about: a better aircraft and a more insightful next test—not just a polished report

We care far more about what you’ve built than any credential or resume. When applying, please share details of aircraft modeling, simulation, or flight-test work you've done:

• Examples of hands-on UAV projects, builds, or performance models

• Aircraft sizing studies, simulation code, or flight-test plans you contributed to

• Data analysis, CFD/FEA results, CAD files, or engineering documentation from past projects

Please submit links, files, photos, or write-ups of prior work—demonstrating your skills, approach, and what you’ve learned along the way. We want to see what you’ve tackled, built, and discovered first-hand.

We care more about agency, ownership, taste, and evidence that you can build than whether you match every bullet point. If you have worked on aircraft, drones, robots, vehicles, rockets, or other hard technical systems and want to help build something from the ground up, we want to hear from you.