ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Freelance Aerospace Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Prima Strategic Group

Source Inspector-Wyoming

Casper, WY · Remote

$72K - $85K/hr

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Source Inspector to join our team on a freelance ... Collaborate with project managers and engineering teams to provide timely and accurate feedback on ...

New

Apply Early

Prima Strategic Group Inc

Source Inspector-Wyoming

Casper, WY · On-site

$18.25 - $24.75/hr

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Source Inspector to join our team on a freelance ... Collaborate with project managers and engineering teams to provide timely and accurate feedback on ...

Prima Strategic Group Inc

Source Inspector

Lubbock, TX · On-site

$16.25 - $22/hr

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Source Inspector to join our team on a freelance ... Collaborate with project managers and engineering teams to provide timely and accurate feedback on ...

TerraFirma, Inc

Brand & Marketing Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

Founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, TerraFirma is automating ... Experience managing budgets and external partners (agencies, contractors, freelancers)

TerraFirma Robotics

Brand & Marketing Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

Founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, TerraFirma is automating ... Experience managing budgets and external partners (agencies, contractors, freelancers)

Apply Early

All JobsFreelance Aerospace Engineer Jobs

Freelance Aerospace Engineer information

See salary details

$14

$47

$132

How much do freelance aerospace engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance aerospace engineer in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance aerospace engineer?

A freelance aerospace engineer is a professional who provides engineering services related to aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and related systems on a contract or project basis, rather than being employed full-time by a single company. These engineers may work independently or as part of a consulting team, helping clients with design, analysis, testing, or project management. Freelance aerospace engineers often work remotely or on-site for specific projects, offering flexibility and specialized expertise to companies in need of short-term or niche skills.

What are some common challenges freelance aerospace engineers face when managing projects independently?

Freelance aerospace engineers often encounter challenges related to project scope management, client communication, and regulatory compliance. Working independently means you are responsible for clarifying technical requirements, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams remotely, and ensuring all work adheres to industry standards and safety regulations. Time management and balancing multiple projects simultaneously can also be demanding, particularly when deadlines overlap. Building strong client relationships and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of aerospace advancements are key to overcoming these hurdles and delivering successful outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Aerospace Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Aerospace Engineer, you need a solid background in aerospace engineering principles, advanced mathematics, and a relevant engineering degree, often supported by a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with CAD software, finite element analysis tools, and industry-specific simulation platforms is essential, along with experience in regulatory compliance. Strong project management, self-motivation, and effective communication skills help freelancers stand out when coordinating with clients and managing multiple projects independently. Mastering these skills ensures quality deliverables, client satisfaction, and the ability to navigate the complex technical and regulatory environment of aerospace projects.

What is the difference between Freelance Aerospace Engineer vs Aerospace Design Engineer?

AspectFreelance Aerospace EngineerAerospace Design Engineer
CredentialsRelevant engineering degree, certifications optionalEngineering degree, professional certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, remote or on-siteCompany-based, team environment, office or lab setting
Employer & Industry UsageClients across aerospace projects, consulting firms, startupsAircraft manufacturers, defense contractors, aerospace firms
Search & Comparison IntentFreelance Aerospace Engineer vs Aerospace Design Engineer

Freelance Aerospace Engineers typically work independently on various projects, often remotely, while Aerospace Design Engineers are employed by companies to develop and test aerospace products in a team setting. Both roles require engineering knowledge, but their work environments and employment structures differ significantly.

More about Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Aerospace Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Aerospace Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Aerospace Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs are:
Freelance Aerospace Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Aerospace Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

CFD Engineer - AI Task Designer Remote (OpenFOAM)

Alignerr

Remote

$80 - $110/hr

Contractor

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

CFD Engineer - AI Task Designer
About the Role
What if your expertise in computational fluid dynamics could teach AI to reason about aerodynamics, boundary conditions, and flow physics - without you ever having to write a single line of machine-learning code?
We're looking for CFD engineers and aerodynamicists to design small, well-defined engineering challenges that train and evaluate AI models on real fluid-dynamics reasoning. Each task you create has three parts: a clear problem statement, a deterministic checker that scores the model's answer, and a trusted reference solution that proves the task is solvable. Think of it as writing bite-sized CFD exam problems - grounded in physics, unambiguous, and automatically gradable.
No reinforcement-learning or AI research background is required. What matters is your hands-on simulation experience and your ability to translate domain knowledge into precise, solvable tasks.
  • Organization
    : Alignerr
  • Type
    : Hourly Contract
  • Location
    : Remote
  • Commitment
    : 10-40 hours/week

What You'll Do
  • Design compact, self-contained CFD and aerodynamics tasks that test an AI model's engineering reasoning
  • Write clear, unambiguous problem statements covering topics such as boundary-condition selection, mesh quality assessment, flow-regime identification, and simulation setup
  • Develop deterministic scoring checkers that can automatically evaluate a model's final answer
  • Provide verified reference solutions that confirm each task is solvable and correctly scored
  • Review and iterate on tasks to ensure physical accuracy, clarity, and appropriate difficulty
  • Draw on your experience with OpenFOAM to ground tasks in real-world practice
  • Work independently and asynchronously - fully on your own schedule

Who You Are
  • Hands-on experience with OpenFOAM
  • Solid foundation in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and heat transfer fundamentals
  • Comfortable with mesh generation, turbulence modeling, boundary-condition specification, and post-processing
  • Able to formulate engineering problems that are precise, self-contained, and objectively verifiable
  • Strong written communication skills - you can explain complex physics clearly and concisely
  • Background in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline (BS or higher preferred)
  • Self-motivated and reliable when working independently without supervision

Nice to Have
  • Experience across multiple CFD solvers or multiphysics platforms
  • Familiarity with scripting or automation (Python, Bash, MATLAB) for setting up or post-processing simulations
  • Exposure to design optimization, flow-control strategies, or adjoint methods
  • Graduate-level coursework or research in aerodynamics, propulsion, or computational methods at institutions such as IITs, IISc, or NITs
  • Previous experience writing technical assessments, exam problems, or engineering challenges
  • Interest in how large language models reason about STEM problems

Why Join Us
  • Apply your CFD expertise to cutting-edge AI research alongside leading labs - from a completely new angle
  • Fully remote and flexible - work when and where it suits you
  • Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, task-based work
  • No need to retrain as a data scientist - your engineering judgment is exactly what's needed
  • Contribute directly to teaching AI models real-world physical reasoning
  • Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch

Apply