Summer Aircraft Performance Engineer Jobs in Virginia

About the role

The Flight Sciences Engineer is responsible for the analysis, evaluation, and verification of aircraft flight characteristics, aerodynamic performance, structural loading, dynamic behavior, and flight test activities associated with aircraft modifications, repairs, and certification programs.

This role develops engineering analyses, technical reports, and substantiation necessary to evaluate aircraft performance, stability, controllability, structural loading, aeroelastic characteristics, and regulatory compliance. Depending upon project requirements, the Flight Sciences Engineer may support aerodynamic analysis, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), flight loads, flutter and structural dynamics, aircraft performance, flight test planning, instrumentation, data analysis, and certification activities.

Flight Sciences Engineers work closely with Mechanical Engineers, Stress Engineers, Certification Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Production personnel, and external stakeholders to ensure aircraft modifications maintain acceptable flight characteristics, structural integrity, airworthiness, and regulatory compliance. They provide technical guidance throughout the design process and support engineering analyses, testing, certification, and flight operations by identifying technical risks, validating engineering assumptions, and verifying aircraft performance.

Who We Are Looking For

• Five or more years of experience supporting aircraft modification, repair, integration, flight sciences, or aerospace product development programs.
• Experience performing aerodynamic analyses, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), aircraft performance evaluations, flight loads, flutter and structural dynamics, or flight test engineering.
• Experience developing engineering reports, substantiation packages, compliance documentation, test plans, and certification support documentation.
• Familiarity with MIL-HDBK-516C airworthiness requirements and military aircraft modification programs.
• Experience supporting aircraft certification, ground testing, flight testing, conformity inspections, or certification compliance demonstrations.
• Experience using commercial engineering analysis software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink, FlightStream, or equivalent engineering analysis tools.
• Familiarity with aircraft systems, structures, avionics integration, and aircraft modification practices.
• Experience working within configuration management, engineering release processes, and aerospace quality systems such as AS9100.
• Experience working directly with customers, DERs, FAA representatives, military authorities, OEMs, suppliers, or certification organizations.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary engineering teams through design, analysis, testing, and certification activities.

What You Will Be Doing

• Perform engineering analyses supporting aircraft flight characteristics, aerodynamic performance, structural loading, dynamic behavior, and certification of aircraft modifications and repairs.
• Develop engineering solutions and technical recommendations that satisfy applicable regulatory, customer, and airworthiness requirements.
• Develop engineering analyses, technical reports, compliance documentation, and supporting engineering data for design and certification activities.
• Support aerodynamic evaluations, CFD, flight loads, flutter and structural dynamics, aircraft performance, stability and control, and other flight sciences analyses.
• Develop flight test plans, test procedures, instrumentation requirements, data acquisition strategies, and post-flight data analysis.
• Coordinate with Mechanical Engineers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Stress Engineers, Certification Engineers, Production, Quality, Program Management, and external stakeholders to support successful program execution.
• Support development of certification artifacts, engineering substantiation, engineering reports, test plans, and documentation required for regulatory and customer approval.
• Participate in engineering design reviews and provide technical recommendations regarding aircraft performance, structural loading, aeroelastic stability, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical support during fabrication, assembly, installation, ground testing, flight testing, troubleshooting, and aircraft modification activities.
• Maintain engineering analyses and supporting documentation under configuration control and ensure work products comply with company standards, procedures, and applicable engineering practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, development of engineering analysis methods, flight sciences processes, engineering standards, and lessons‑learned activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Engineering Manager.

You Must Have

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Experience supporting aircraft performance, flight sciences, aerodynamics, flight testing, aircraft modifications, or aerospace product development programs.
• Working knowledge of aerodynamics, aircraft performance, stability and control, flight mechanics, structural loading, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and engineering analysis methods applicable to flight sciences.
• Experience developing engineering analyses, technical reports, compliance documentation, and supporting engineering substantiation for FAA, military, or other regulated aerospace programs.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written, verbal, and technical communication skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with Engineering, Certification, Production, Quality, Program Management, customers, suppliers, FAA representatives, DERs, ODA organizations, and military authorities.
• Ability to work in both office and aircraft hangar environments.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status.

Aery Aviation job descriptions are meant as summarizations only. They do not necessarily reflect all duties and responsibilities of a position.

Our Benefits

We offer the right candidate the chance to join a forward-thinking organization, supported by a competitive compensation and benefits package. Learn more about Aery Aviation, LLC at www.aeryaviation.com.

Aery Aviation, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Aery Aviation, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

About Aery Aviation LLC

Aery Aviation, LLC is an aviation services organization whose focus is on the engineering, certification, and production associated with aircraft modifications. Our team has significant experience spanning everything from single engine ISR aircraft for government utilization to widebody VVIP interior completions. From design to delivery, Aery provides turnkey, bespoke solutions for our clientele.