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Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

PZI International

Aero-Optics Engineer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

... wind tunnel test facilities and flight test vehicles. While direct experience with aero-optics ... Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical area5 years minimum ...

Technology Service Corporation (TSC)

$153K - $218K/yr

The Senior Aerospace Test Engineer will lead advanced aerospace experimentation efforts. They will ... Direct experience with relevant test facilities such as wind tunnels * Direct experience with ...

Technology Service Corporation (TSC)

$153K - $218K/yr

The Senior Aerospace Test Engineer will lead advanced aerospace experimentation efforts. They will ... Direct experience with relevant test facilities such as wind tunnels * Direct experience with ...

Furientis

Aerodynamics Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Plan and run wind-tunnel campaigns: test matrix, model and sting design, blockage corrections ... B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Math, Physics, or related. M.S. or ...

General Atomics

Engineer V

Poway, CA · On-site

$105K - $189K/yr

Take part in wind tunnel and flight test planning, execution, and post-test analysis. * Conduct trade studies and carry out sensitivity analyses to inform high-level engineering design decisions.

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Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer information

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$11K

$109.6K

$183.5K

How much do contractual wind tunnel test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for contractual wind tunnel test engineer in the United States is $109,565.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contractual wind tunnel test engineer?

Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineers are specialized engineers hired on a contract basis to design, set up, and conduct experiments in wind tunnels for testing the aerodynamic properties of various objects, such as aircraft, vehicles, or structures. They analyze data from these tests to assess performance, solve engineering challenges, and provide recommendations for design improvements. Their work is crucial in industries like aerospace and automotive engineering, where precise aerodynamic testing is essential. Unlike permanent staff, contractual engineers are employed for specific projects or periods, offering flexibility to organizations with fluctuating testing needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contractual wind tunnel test engineer?

To thrive as a Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace or mechanical engineering, experience with aerodynamic testing, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with wind tunnel instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and analysis software such as MATLAB or LabVIEW is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set outstanding candidates apart. These competencies are crucial for conducting accurate tests, ensuring reliable data, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to advance aerodynamic research.

What are some common challenges faced by a contractual wind tunnel test engineer, and how can they be addressed?

Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineers often face challenges such as adapting quickly to new teams, tight project deadlines, and working with complex data acquisition systems. Since the role involves short-term assignments, it’s important to develop strong communication skills to integrate smoothly with ongoing projects and to be proactive in understanding project-specific protocols. Familiarity with a variety of wind tunnel setups and flexibility in troubleshooting unexpected test anomalies are also key to success in this dynamic work environment.

What is the difference between Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer vs Aerospace Test Engineer?

AspectContractual Wind Tunnel Test EngineerAerospace Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, certifications in wind tunnel testingBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, certifications in testing and analysis
Work EnvironmentWind tunnel facilities, testing labs, client sitesTest facilities, laboratories, aircraft or spacecraft testing environments
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace, defense, and research projects involving wind tunnel testingBroader aerospace sector, including aircraft, spacecraft, and systems testing

In summary, a Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer specializes in conducting wind tunnel tests on a contractual basis, focusing on aerodynamic testing and data collection. An Aerospace Test Engineer has a broader role, encompassing various testing activities across aerospace projects. Both roles require similar technical credentials but differ in scope and work environment.

What cities are hiring for Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer jobs?

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What are the most commonly searched types of Wind Tunnel Test Engineer jobs?

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What states have the most Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer jobs?

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Contractual Wind Tunnel Test Engineer jobs near you

Aerodynamics Engineer, Air Vehicles (Fastwater Staffing)

HIKINEX

Costa Mesa, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Aerodynamic design of unmanned air vehicles/missiles at conceptual, preliminary, and detail design maturities
  • Aerodynamic analysis of unmanned air vehicles, using both low and high order methods,
  • including analysis tool development and improvement as needed
  • Stability and control analysis
  • Aircraft performance modeling and simulation
  • Aerodynamic loads generation
  • Wind tunnel test planning, execution, and analysis
  • Flight test planning, execution, and analysis

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • BS or higher degree in Aerospace Engineering
  • 3+ work experience as an individual contributing engineer
  • Experience with aircraft performance and analysis predictions
  • Competent in a variety of aerodynamic analysis techniques including hand calculations, vortex, lattice methods, panel methods, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
  • Wind tunnel and flight test experience including data acquisition, data analysis and project coordination
  • Strong programming skills in higher-level languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python) for internal tool development in a version-controlled environment
  • Experience preparing formal documentation (i.e., specifications, test procedures, technical reports, etc.)
  • Passion for defending the United States and her allies
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • StarCCM+ experience
  • Ice accretion or icing analysis experience
  • Missile DATCOM, OTIS, or DYMOS
  • Experience with transonic and supersonic flow regimes
  • Active U.S. Secret security clearance
Employment Type: FULL_TIME
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About Hikinex

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Hikinex is a multi-channel integrated service provider designed to help Companies scale fast and drive more profit. We leverage diverse resources to provide Superior services at a fraction of the cost.

Industry

Strategic planning consulting services

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

San Francisco, CA, US

Year founded

2016

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