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Senior Engineer, Aircraft Performance

Remote

About Otto Aviation 
OTTO is developing the world’s first fifth-generation business jet, designed for sustainability through the innovative use of advanced super-laminar aerodynamics and high-precision, net-shaped composites. Flight tests of our technology demonstrator validate a dramatic reduction in fuel burn and allow a sizeable improvement in cabin comfort. Otto Aviation is designing world-class aircraft from first principles physics and delivering ground-breaking aircraft and economic performance. 

 

Role Overview 

Otto Aviation is looking for a Sr. Aircraft Performance Engineer to join our Flight Sciences team, to help with the design, testing, and certification of our future highly efficient aircraft. In this role you will be responsible for developing methodologies and aircraft performance models to assess and optimize the performance of  

the world’s most efficient aircraft.  Otto Aviation is seeking a first principles engineer that works great in a team atmosphere and gets things done. 

 

Flight Sciences includes all phases of flight dynamics design and analysis to support configuration development, flight testing, and entry into service. This position encompasses all flight regimes up to and including transonic cruise, approach and landing, and off-design operations. You will also be assisting in the experimental efforts that support validation, database development, and optimization of the configuration. 

 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Develop drag modeling methodologies and create drag models for use in aircraft performance analyses. 
  • Develop computerized aircraft performance programs and methods to be used to analyze all aspects of aircraft performance.  
  • Develop tools & processes for performance data reduction & expansion and optimization of mission planning for safe operations.  
  • Develop, modify, and run in-house tools, including simulation models, to analyze aircraft flight performance during takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and landing.  
  • Estimate critical performance parameters, such as stall speeds, rates of climb, climb ceiling, maximum range, and fuel reserves.  
  • Support the integration of the aircraft performance tools within the flight operations and planning tools.  
  • Support the powerplant group in the definition of the engine thrust ratings.  
  • Plan and participate in the flight test campaigns to analyze performance data to support development and certification, including test scope planning, instrumentation requirements, flight test support, and data reduction for the performance models and data matching.  
  • Author and review certification documents to show compliance with certification requirements as required. 

 

Education and Experience 

  • B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, or another relevant discipline  
  • 5-7+ years of experience doing detailed performance analysis on fixed wing aircraft  
  • Strong knowledge of performance methodologies and associated software development for performance data reduction & expansion tools  
  • Excellent understanding of key concepts and equations for aircraft performance analysis  
  • Experience with simulation and flight testing for aircraft performance  
  • Experienced with scripting languages and Simulation tools (e.g. Python, MATLAB)  
  • Previous experience with the various phases of an aircraft development program, from conceptual design through certification and in-service support. 

 

Interpersonal Skills 

 

  • Active Listening: Practice to gain insight and truly understand all project stakeholders. 
  • Critical Thinking: Make prompt, informed and value-based decisions for the project. 
  • Organization: Focus on agenda, schedules, frameworks, and methodologies, as well as communicating tasks, updates, progress, and blockers. 
  • Problem Solving: Assess issues from different vantage points and formulate the best solution in addressing specific challenges. 
  • Self-Motivation: Exude highest level of commitment and motivation to see it through from start to finish. 
  • Teamwork and Team Building: Establish a collaborative culture where people with unique personalities and skills happily work together and accountable to shared goal. 
  • Strong Business Communication: Use the right language, tone and storytelling techniques when communicating, describing, or explaining issues over email, chat, reports, presentations and other forms and channels of communication. 

Physical Requirements  

  • Must be able to stand on feet and walk around for extended periods of time.  
  • Must be able to sit at desk for prolonged periods of time and work on computer.  
  • Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.  

 

Otto Aviation is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.” 

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