Harmattan AI · Lausanne
Aerothermal Engineer
ABOUT US Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the...
ABOUT US
Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M
Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to
allied forces.
Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting
ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and
execution are expected.
Harmattan is seeking a hands-on Aerothermal Engineer to join our Aerodynamics team. You will own the full thermal and aerothermal
engineering cycle for our UAV platforms: from early design recommendations and simulation to wind tunnel experiments and flight
test campaigns. Your work directly impacts the survivability, reliability, and performance of our systems in contested
environments. You will be the technical authority on heat transfer, thermal management, and aerothermal interactions across all
vehicle programs — working closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, mechanical, and GNC teams to ensure our platforms perform within
thermal limits under real operational conditions.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Aerothermal Design & Recommendations: Provide early-stage design guidance on thermal management architecture — including
cooling inlet design, heat shield placement, exhaust routing, and surface coatings — to ensure airframes remain within thermal
limits across the full flight envelope.
- Thermal & Aerothermal Simulation: Set up, run, and validate lower fidelity thermal models, simulations and coupled
thermal-fluid CFD tools (e.g., OpenFOAM). Model convective, conductive, and radiative heat transfer on internal components
(batteries, motors, avionics) and external aerodynamic surfaces.
- Design Optimization: Drive iterative aerothermal optimization cycles to minimize thermal drag penalty, reduce hotspot
intensity, and maximize cooling efficiency. Leverage scripting and automated workflows to sweep design parameters and converge
on optimal configurations.
- Wind Tunnel Test Campaigns: Design, plan, and execute aerothermal wind tunnel experiments. Define instrumentation strategy
(thermocouples, heat flux sensors, pressure taps), write test plans, operate test rigs, and lead post-test data analysis and
correlation with simulation.
- Flight Test Campaigns: Contribute to and lead in-flight thermal measurement campaigns. Define DAQ architecture for thermal
sensors, develop test matrices, analyze flight data, and correlate with CFD predictions to validate models and sign off thermal
margins.
- Cross-functional Integration: Act as the thermal interface between the aerodynamics, propulsion, mechanical, and GNC teams —
ensuring that thermal constraints are reflected in system-level trade-offs and that heat rejection requirements are accounted
for in the airframe design.
REQUIREMENTS
- Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a strong focus on
fluid mechanics and heat transfer.
- AeroThermal Fundamentals: Solid theoretical grounding in convective, conductive, and radiative heat transfer; boundary layer
theory; and viscous flow physics as applied to aircraft surfaces and internal cooling passages.
- Thermal Simulation Proficiency: Hands-on experience with CFD simulations in at least one major solver (OpenFOAM, Star-CCM+,
ANSYS Fluent/CFX, or equivalent). Ability to select appropriate thermal boundary conditions, turbulence models, and mesh
strategies for accuracy.
- Experimental Testing: Demonstrated experience planning and executing thermal measurement campaigns — either in wind tunnel or
in-flight — including instrumentation selection, DAQ setup, data reduction, and uncertainty analysis.
- Python Proficiency: Ability to script data processing pipelines, automate post-processing of thermal simulation outputs, and
interface with experimental DAQ systems.
- Technical Communication: Ability to translate complex aerothermal findings into clear design recommendations for
multidisciplinary teams.
NICE TO HAVE
- General Aerodynamic Knowledge: Familiarity with the fundamentals of external aerodynamics — lift and drag generation, pressure
distributions, boundary layer behaviour, and flow separation — as applied to fixed-wing or multirotor UAV platforms.
- RC Knowledge: Hands-on experience building, flying, or tuning RC aircraft or drones — whether fixed-wing, quadcopter, or hybrid
configurations.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.