Flight Mechanics and Simulation Engineer

Flight Mechanics and Simulation Engineer

DRONAMICS

Horta, Portugal

Responsibilities

Day to day activities will include:

• Reviewing the existing flight mechanics models
• Improving fidelity of the existing flight mechanics models
• Expanding the existing flight mechanics analysis MATLAB codebase
• Maintaining and improving the in-house flight simulator
• Writing technical documentation
• Reviewing existing technical documentation/methodologies
• Supporting the FCS engineer and Aerodynamics and Load Cases Engineer with flight mechanics related activities (e.g. linearisations, trim etc.)
• Flight test support at the test site (if required)

Required skills

• Good working level in MATLAB and Simulink:
  • Improvement and maintenance of existing dynamic models
  • Contribution to existing MATLAB codebase for aircraft analysis
  • Good understanding of data structures in MATLAB
  • Good understanding of Model Based Design practices (MBD)
• Good understanding of aerodynamics and flight mechanics:
  • Standard definitions of aerodynamic coefficients
  • Derivation of aerodynamic coefficients from Boundary Element Method (BEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • 3DOF, 6DOF equations of motion
  • Stability derivatives, importance and effect
  • Flat-earth, and ECEF
  • Trim and linearization (coupled and decoupled)
  • Static and dynamic stability analysis (coupled and decoupled):
    • fixed-and-free neutral and maneuvering points
    • longitudinal and lateral modes
  • Post-flight test data analysis
• Good understanding of the concepts of flight simulation:
  • Familiarity with aerodynamic models:
    • stability derivatives/lookup tables
  • Improvement of existing flight simulators
• Flight test support:
  • Support existing flight tests (full and subscale aircraft) as part of the standard activities of the Aerodynamics Performance & Simulation team.
• Good technical documentation writing skills
• Good presentation skills

Nice to have skills

• Prior experience with fixed-wing UAV platforms is a plus
• Good working knowledge of the GIT version control system is a plus (training can be provided)
• Good understanding of the working principles of BEM and CFD is a plus
• Basic understanding of Simulink Compiler, C++, and compilation using MSVC is a plus (training can be provided)

Qualifications

• MSc/MEng or PhD in Aerospace Engineering or related field with at least 3 years industry experience (Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering field is preferred)