Aerodynamics Engineer Jobs in California
Aerodynamics Engineer jobs in California are concentrated in the greater Los Angeles area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Inland Empire, where defense contractors, commercial aerospace firms, and advanced mobility companies sustain year-round demand at every level from early-career to principal engineer. Employers like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing maintain large California engineering teams and hire consistently across computational fluid dynamics, hypersonics, and UAV aerodynamics. California is among the most active markets in the country for this discipline, reflecting the state's density of aerospace primes, NASA facilities, and emerging electric aviation startups. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Aerodynamics Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 6+ Aerodynamics Engineer jobs
JOB ID: 734967BR
Date posted: Jul. 16, 2026
Description:
Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more — we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we’re reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.
Join us in shaping a new era in space and find a career that's built for you.
In this role you will be supporting Aerodynamics analysis team as an Aeronautical Engineer - Hypersonic Aerodynamics where you will work on the development of a sophisticated state-of-the-art aerodynamics product in a world class Integrated Product Development environment.
As an Aero Engineer you will integrate all flight regimes including hypersonic.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist the program with proposal preparedness and execution activities
- Performing a variety of aerodynamics analyses related to rocket systems with a particular emphasis on hypersonics and high altitude rarefied gas environments possibly including plume analysis.
- Creating technical memos.
- Providing input to data packages to support peer and customer reviews.
- Presenting analysis results to internal engineering teams, customer technical representatives, and Program Office personnel during technical exchange meetings.
Basic Qualifications:
- Knowledge of aerodynamic forces and moments.
- Knowledge of hypersonics and high altitude rarefied gas environments possibly including plume analysis.
- Familiarity with creating technical memos.
- Presenting analysis results.
- Active or Current Top Secret Clearance needed to start and preferably previous Special Access Program experience; US Citizenship Required
Desired Skills:
- Bachelors degree in Physics, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline and/or equivalent education and experience
- Hypersonic Aero/Thermal experience
- DSMC analysis
- Plume analysis
- CFD Meshing – Pointwise preferred
- CFD experience – Fluent, GASP, Cart3D, CBAERO, Star-CCM+ preferred
- CFD Post-processing
- Large dataset post-processing experience
- Software development / programming experience (Fortran, C, Python, Matlab, etc)
- Integrated system level modeling and simulation
- Linux experience
- MS Office experience
#SpaceFlightScience
Security Clearance Statement:
This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.Clearance Level:
Top SecretOther Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest:
By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.Ability to Work Remotely:
Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.Work Schedules:
Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.Schedule for this Position:
9x80 every other Friday offPay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $104,500 - $184,115. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $120,100 - $208,150. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.
With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.
If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level:
Experienced ProfessionalBusiness Unit:
SPACERelocation Available:
PossibleCareer Area:
Aeronautical EngineeringType:
Full-TimeShift:
FirstAt Lockheed Martin, we apply our passion for purposeful innovation to keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges.
Pioneering Defense Technology: From aerospace to outer space to cyber space, you can innovate mission solutions alongside the best minds in the business.
United By Culture: Excellence, integrity, and collaboration define us. We accelerate change and embrace one another’s perspectives to win for our customers.
Real Impact, Real Growth: Grow your career and skills for life. Our wide array of opportunities and technology-driven learning programs enable your development and agility.
Your Health, Your Wealth, Your Life: Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and flexible schedules designed so you thrive — at work and beyond.
Empowered to Be Your Best: Use your strengths to make a difference in the lives of one another, our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Here, the possibilities are endless because we offer:
JOB ID: 734967BR
Date posted: Jul. 16, 2026
Description:
Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more — we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we’re reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.
Join us in shaping a new era in space and find a career that's built for you.
In this role you will be supporting Aerodynamics analysis team as an Aeronautical Engineer - Hypersonic Aerodynamics where you will work on the development of a sophisticated state-of-the-art aerodynamics product in a world class Integrated Product Development environment.
As an Aero Engineer you will integrate all flight regimes including hypersonic.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist the program with proposal preparedness and execution activities
- Performing a variety of aerodynamics analyses related to rocket systems with a particular emphasis on hypersonics and high altitude rarefied gas environments possibly including plume analysis.
- Creating technical memos.
- Providing input to data packages to support peer and customer reviews.
- Presenting analysis results to internal engineering teams, customer technical representatives, and Program Office personnel during technical exchange meetings.
Basic Qualifications:
- Knowledge of aerodynamic forces and moments.
- Knowledge of hypersonics and high altitude rarefied gas environments possibly including plume analysis.
- Familiarity with creating technical memos.
- Presenting analysis results.
- Active or Current Top Secret Clearance needed to start and preferably previous Special Access Program experience; US Citizenship Required
Desired Skills:
- Bachelors degree in Physics, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline and/or equivalent education and experience
- Hypersonic Aero/Thermal experience
- DSMC analysis
- Plume analysis
- CFD Meshing – Pointwise preferred
- CFD experience – Fluent, GASP, Cart3D, CBAERO, Star-CCM+ preferred
- CFD Post-processing
- Large dataset post-processing experience
- Software development / programming experience (Fortran, C, Python, Matlab, etc)
- Integrated system level modeling and simulation
- Linux experience
- MS Office experience
#SpaceFlightScience
Security Clearance Statement:
This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.Clearance Level:
Top SecretOther Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest:
By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.Ability to Work Remotely:
Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.Work Schedules:
Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.Schedule for this Position:
9x80 every other Friday offPay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in California, Massachusetts, and New York (excluding most major metropolitan areas), Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington or Washington DC is $104,500 - $184,115. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
(Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Pay Rate: The annual base salary range for this position in most major metropolitan areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York is $120,100 - $208,150. For states not referenced above, the salary range for this position will reflect the candidate’s final work location. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays.
This position is incentive plan eligible.
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.
With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.
If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level:
Experienced ProfessionalBusiness Unit:
SPACERelocation Available:
PossibleCareer Area:
Aeronautical EngineeringType:
Full-TimeShift:
FirstAt Lockheed Martin, we apply our passion for purposeful innovation to keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges.
Pioneering Defense Technology: From aerospace to outer space to cyber space, you can innovate mission solutions alongside the best minds in the business.
United By Culture: Excellence, integrity, and collaboration define us. We accelerate change and embrace one another’s perspectives to win for our customers.
Real Impact, Real Growth: Grow your career and skills for life. Our wide array of opportunities and technology-driven learning programs enable your development and agility.
Your Health, Your Wealth, Your Life: Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and flexible schedules designed so you thrive — at work and beyond.
Empowered to Be Your Best: Use your strengths to make a difference in the lives of one another, our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Here, the possibilities are endless because we offer:
See All 6 Aerodynamics Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Aerodynamics Engineer JobsAerodynamics Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Aerodynamics Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in aerodynamics engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in computational fluid dynamics software such as ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM
- Experience with wind tunnel testing, data acquisition, and aerodynamic performance analysis
- Familiarity with aerospace industry standards and design tools including CATIA or SolidWorks
- Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. security clearance for defense-sector roles
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional engineering collaboration
Aerodynamics Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a aerodynamics engineer in California?
Aerodynamics engineering in California does not require a state-issued license to work as an individual contributor, but earning a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists strengthens long-term career prospects. Most California employers require at minimum a bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering. Candidates who pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and accumulate qualifying experience become eligible to pursue full PE licensure, which is valued for senior and lead roles.
Which companies hire aerodynamics engineers in California?
Employers hiring aerodynamics engineers in California right now include archer, Anduril, and Natilus, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of defense primes, commercial aircraft suppliers, and electric aviation startups means hiring is spread across both large established contractors and well-funded emerging companies.
Which California cities have the most aerodynamics engineer jobs?
The cities with the most aerodynamics engineer openings in California are San Jose, San Diego, and Sunnyvale. The Los Angeles metro drives the largest share of postings because of the dense cluster of aerospace primes and defense contractors headquartered or operating major facilities there, while the Bay Area adds openings tied to NASA Ames, electric aviation ventures, and autonomous systems companies in the region.
Are there remote aerodynamics engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Aerodynamics engineering relies heavily on physical testing, wind tunnel access, lab equipment, and classified facility work, which limits fully remote arrangements. About 0% of aerodynamics engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be analytical or simulation-heavy roles focused on computational fluid dynamics modeling rather than hands-on testing work.
How can I get hired as a aerodynamics engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an internship or co-op at a California aerospace prime or defense contractor while still completing a degree, as companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin run structured early-career programs at their California sites. New graduates can also target associate aerodynamics engineer or stress analyst roles as lateral entry points. Building a portfolio of CFD simulation projects, contributing to university rocketry or SAE Aero Design teams, and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam all give California candidates a measurable edge when competing for first roles.
Where can I find and apply to aerodynamics engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to aerodynamics engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly from each listing.
See All 6 Aerodynamics Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Aerodynamics Engineer Jobs