Strativ Group ยท 1 month ago
Lead Aircraft Conceptual Design Engineer
California, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
10+ years expStrativ Group is seeking a Lead Aircraft Conceptual Design Engineer who will be the technical owner and driver of conceptual design and vehicle-level performance for their next-generation aircraft platform. This role involves leading the planning, execution, and verification of vehicle performance and sizing activities, ensuring that vehicle goals are achieved by balancing subsystem trade-offs across key engineering domains.
ConsultingRecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Lewis Thompson
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain integrated aircraft sizing models (aerodynamics, propulsion, weight, mission profiles, energy systems)
Define and execute multidisciplinary trade studies (rotor configuration, battery capacity, wing loading, powertrain) to guide conceptual design
Define and optimize detailed mission profiles (range, payload, endurance) based on operational and certification requirements
Apply MDAO (Multidisciplinary Design Optimization) methods for optimal vehicle design
Conduct comprehensive vehicle-level performance analyses (hover, climb, cruise, descent, and transition phases)
Plan and support performance verification through ground tests, flight tests, and advanced simulation
Support simulation and modeling for energy management, control law tuning, and flight performance validation
Serve as the central interface, collaborating closely with Configuration, Propulsion, Controls, CFD, and other teams for system consistency
Prepare technical reports for internal design reviews and external stakeholders
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers
Qualification
Required
B.S. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a relevant Engineering field
Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in aerospace performance, analysis, and conceptual design
Proven experience with aircraft sizing models, MDAO tools, and physics-based aerodynamics analysis and design methods
Demonstrable project planning, organizational, and technical leadership skills
Deep understanding of aerodynamics engineering fundamentals, especially for vertical lift aircraft
Expertise in rotorcraft or fixed-wing performance analysis techniques
Proven capability to assess and validate performance through analysis, modeling, and flight/ground testing
Self-motivated, forward-thinking, and possesses the ability to independently prioritize and accomplish complex work
Preferred
Master's or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a relevant Engineering field
Extensive experience performing performance analysis and innovative design methods for rotorcraft or VTOL/eVTOL aircraft
Company
Strativ Group
Strativ Group is a staffing agency that offers training, talent acquisition, skill development, recruitment, and consultancy services.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase