Lead MDAO Engineer - Weapon Performance

The role

You will lead multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization (MDAO) efforts for air-launched effects, tactical interceptors, and next-generation munitions. You will set MDAO technical direction, mentor engineers across disciplines, and work with Aerodynamics, Structures, Propulsion, GNC, and Systems Engineering.

What you will do

• Lead MDAO efforts that couple aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and trajectory models into vehicle-level trade studies and sizing.
• Establish shared MDAO methods and tools, and document vehicle-level sizing, trade study and optimization processes.
• Develop automated workflows that integrate CAD, CFD, FEA and simulation outputs into optimization loops.
• Author and maintain architecture documentation for the MDAO toolset.
• Set up tasking workflows and development pipelines in tools such as Git, CI/CD and issue tracking.
• Incorporate feedback from Aerodynamics, Structures, Propulsion and GNC engineers into toolset development.
• Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses balancing performance, cost, schedule and manufacturability.
• Validate MDAO-driven designs against wind tunnel, ground test and flight test data, and lead root-cause investigations of discrepancies.
• Support RFI/RFP proposal responses and new program capture with early vehicle sizing and feasibility assessments.
• Mentor engineers across disciplines on MDAO methods and tools, and present findings at PDR and CDR reviews.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; a Master's degree is typical but exceptional applied experience can substitute.
• 10+ years of experience performing and leading multidisciplinary design, analysis and optimization in an applied, program-driven environment.
• Demonstrable experience carrying an MDAO effort through to real hardware on at least one program of record.
• Experience with MDO frameworks and methods (e.g., OpenMDAO, ModelCenter/Phoenix Integration, or custom pipelines).
• Experience building and maintaining validation libraries and writing unit tests for MDAO code and workflows.
• Familiarity implementing MDAO frameworks into the digital thread, including tools such as Cameo.
• Programming or scripting proficiency in Python, MATLAB or similar.
• Understanding of running and troubleshooting MDAO workloads on distributed computing systems such as HPC clusters.
• Experience with version control such as Git or SVN.
• Hands-on experience working alongside real flight hardware.
• Familiarity integrating CAD, CFD and FEA toolchains into a common vehicle-level design workflow.
• Experience generating 6-DOF trajectory or flight simulation models.

Nice to have

• C++ skills.
• Experience with ANSYS, NASTRAN/PATRAN, CATIA, SolidWorks or Siemens NX toolchains is listed as familiarity, not preferred; no items are marked as preferred in the posting beyond C++ being a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package.
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance options, and more.
• 401k with company match.
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year.
• 40 hours of sick time.
• 12 annual company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

Before you apply

• U.S. Person status under ITAR is required.
• A U.S. DoD Secret security clearance must be obtained and maintained.
• Federal law requires identity and work eligibility verification upon hire; the company uses E-Verify.

About the company

Zone 5 Technologies develops precision weapons, interceptors and unmanned aircraft systems for the United States and its allies. It is a federal contractor.