Aerospace Engineer, Aircraft Design
Location
Daytona Beach, Florida
Department
Engineering
About VerdeGo Aero
VerdeGo is a hardware‐based startup, with a focus on rapid iteration and development. Modern computing tools and analysis are consistently applied in parallel with real‐world execution, testing, and validation. In the emerging market sector of distributed electric propulsion, we stand as one of a few companies shipping product to customers today, and we are moving fast to meet the burgeoning demand for electrons that will enable a revolution in aviation not seen since the dawn of the jet age.
VerdeGo Aero is the market leader in hybrid‐ electric gensets, converting Jet‐A fuel to electricity with multiple customers already signing on to our solutions. Between our proven hybrid technology with proprietary noise reduction, our internal battery development program, and our advanced flight modeling we already serve multiple segments of this exciting new marketplace.
VerdeGo is seeking an Aerospace Engineer-Aircraft Design to join our R&D team to analyze and refine aircraft designs for Urban Air Mobility aircraft concepts. This role involves application and refinement of VerdeGo's proprietary design tools to evaluate aircraft design scenarios involving: mission profiles, performance requirements, powertrain architectures, and airframe configurations.
This position is located at our headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL and involves analysis, modification of software design tools, assessment of mission capability, evaluation of aircraft noise, and optimization around performance requirements.
Technical expertise should include: experience with MATLAB and Simulink, aerospace conceptual design, engineering analysis, development of customized software tools for analysis, design of VTOL aircraft, understanding of aerodynamics fundamentals, and understanding of aerospace propulsion systems. This role may work both with VerdeGo's internal team, as well as external customer teams.
Job Responsibilities
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Analyze design scenarios for VTOL Urban Air Mobility aircraft to assess performance, mission capability, and noise output
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Identify refinements to aircraft designs to meet performance objectives
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Update and modify VerdeGo's analysis software tools to add capabilities and refine accuracy
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Define powertrain requirements to achieve desired performance levels
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Assess multiple powertrain options, including hybrid-electric and battery-electric power storage
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Interact with VerdeGo customers to understand project requirements, provide regular updates, and collaborate with external project inputs
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Document aircraft design iterations and updates to software tools, and communicate progress with VerdeGo leadership and customers
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Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the Urban Air Mobility industry
Organizational Competencies
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Must be a team player with positive attitude. VerdeGo is a growing company, we routinely take on big challenges on a tight timeline, and we learn fast. Company culture is consistent focus on learning and moving forward as a team.
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Strong communication skills are important. The successful candidate will be expected to present work and key findings to internal stakeholders, investors, and customers.
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Some program management skills will be beneficial. This Senior Engineer will be expected to convert broad project goals into action plans, timelines, draft budgets, and other tools to move a large project from inception to completion.
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Patience and interest in mentoring will be important. VerdeGo has a strong team of young engineers and ideally they will learn and grow. It is expected this candidate will help move the whole company forward quickly by coaching, trusting, and pushing our growing electronics team.
During product development, VerdeGo maintains a keen eye on the make vs. buy question. We tend to focus manufacturing outside our facility to keep our physical footprint and overhead low, but we can and do execute some wiring and electronics development in‐house. Going forward, there is an expectation for a blend of internal development vs. outside manufacture as it relates to LV wiring, HV wiring, controller development, and other activities.
Qualifications Required
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An accredited Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and two years of aerospace engineering and aircraft analysis experience required; Masters Degree and five years experience preferred
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Experience modeling systems with MATLAB and Simulink
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Understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft propulsion, aircraft conceptual design, rotor design, weight fraction analysis, and aircraft noise
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Experience with unconventional aircraft architectures
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Software analysis tool development experience
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills
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Hands-on prototyping experience
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Experience with VTOL aircraft is a plus
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Candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder