Aerospace Research Engineer

About Us

At Whoosh HPC Lab, an innovative startup company, we are pushing the boundaries of scientific computing for the aerospace sector and beyond. As a research-driven, high-performance computing (HPC) company, our mission is to develop the next generation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multiphysics simulation capabilities. We support cutting-edge R&D through collaborations with federal agencies and industry leaders, aiming to solve some of the most challenging problems in high-speed fluid dynamics.

Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, near the nation's capital, our team thrives in an intellectually rich and technically rigorous environment.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Research Engineer to join our rapidly growing team here in Montgomery County, MD. In this role, you will assist in the development of advanced numerical tools and other simulation software, perform accuracy testing and benchmarking of in-house tools, develop unit-testing pipelines, and showcase your work to internal team members and interact with external clients. Whoosh is seeking a Research Engineer to advance the CHAMPS+ in-house solver platform. Whoosh is seeking potential candidates with expertise in three solver specialties. The specific tasks for each specialty may involve:

General Job Responsibilities

• Development and optimization of Whoosh’s in-house solver for multi-physics applications.
• Verify and validate the implemented numerical models against canonical test cases.
• Formulate unit-tests to help maintain code integrity.
• Assist in code documentation for internal and external users.
• Contribute to expanding and refining in-house software to provide a user-friendly interface for inexperienced users.
• Some travel may be necessary to advertise Whoosh software tools, attend research conferences, meet prospective clients, and/or provide training workshops to customers.

Specialty: High-speed Multiphase Solver Developer

• Experience with stiffened gas, NASG, and/or tabulated AQUA equation of state models.
• Background in developing/simulating droplet aerobreakup and impingement at high-speed (supersonic/hypersonic) conditions.
• Knowledge of and experience utilizing the 5-equation and/or 7-equation multiphase models in the context of large-scale CFD analysis.

Specialty: Structural Solver Developer

• Experience in developing steady/unsteady structural solvers in the context of finite element analysis or peridynamics frameworks.
• Coupled aerodynamic/structural analysis problems including fluid-structure interactions and/or fluid-thermal-structural interactions.

Specialty: High-speed Aerothermodynamic Analysis Solver Developer

• Background in low-fidelity modeling tools for rapid aerothermodynamic analysis of supersonic/hypersonic vehicle design.
• Experience with both non-reacting and reacting flow solver development.
• Experience in coupled multiphysics problems such as fluid-structure interactions, conjugate heat transfer, and/or ablation modeling via low or high fidelity modeling assumptions.

This is a highly technical role ideal for candidates with strong backgrounds in numerical methods, fluid dynamics, and high-performance scientific programming.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or a PhD in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or related fields.
• Solid experience with C++ and/or CUDA in the context of large-scale compute architectures.
• Background in large-scale CFD analysis for real-world problems using either commercial of in-house software.
• Strong problem-solving skills and an interest in solving real-world aerospace engineering challenges.
• Must be a US citizen or permanent resident to apply for this position.
• Prior experience with HPC environments or SBIR-funded R&D.
• Background in high-speed vehicle analysis (supersonic/hypersonic regimes).
• Code development experience related to CFD numerical methods.
• Leadership experience in driving/leading research projects as both an individual and in a team environment.

What We Offer

• Salary range: $100,000 - $170,000 per year
• Benefits:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with employer match
  • Workers’ compensation insurance
  • 9 paid holidays per year
  • Paid time off
  • Family leave
  • Relocation bonus: May be considered for qualified candidates
• A collaborative, innovative work culture with high-impact technical challenges.
• Opportunity to contribute to nationally significant aerospace research.

Join Us

If you're excited by the opportunity to develop cutting-edge CFD software and work at the forefront of multiphysics simulation research, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV to careers@whooshhpc.com and indicate which specialty role in the list above that you would be interested in/qualified for. A representative will reach out to you if you meet the qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you!