Head of Aerodynamics & Thermal
Core
Lead aerodynamic and thermal design lifecycle for military drone programmes, from conceptual modelling to physical validation, ensuring reliable performance in extreme operational environments.
Role type
Head of Aerodynamics & Thermal (Senior Leadership)
Builds
Military drone airframes, control surfaces, propulsion systems, and thermal management solutions for tactical and high-altitude platforms.
Domain
Defence / Aerospace Engineering
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
Aerodynamic system design and validation, Thermal design and modelling (CHT), CFD simulation (steady-state and transient), SWaP-C trade-off analysis, Defence certification standards (MIL-STD-810), Team leadership for specialist engineering teams
Preferred skills
CAD/CAE integration (SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX), Diagnostic instrumentation (thermocouples, infrared cameras, pressure scanners), Correlation of physical test data with simulation outputs
Technologies
ANSYS Fluent, Star-CCM+, Siemens Simcenter, OpenFOAM
Responsibilities
Drive aerodynamic design and performance analysis using high-fidelity CFD and wind tunnel campaigns; Lead thermal design, modelling, and validation across the full drone platform; Resolve complex SWaP-C trade-offs by deploying advanced thermal solutions; Establish best practices for CFD modelling, fluid-thermal simulation, and physical testing; Collaborate across structural, electronics, and payload teams to deliver multi-disciplinary drone architectures; Lead environmental and aerodynamic validation testing in accordance with defence standards
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with leadership responsibilities