At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive aerodynamic design for innovative aircraft and propellers, turning theory into practice.
- Company: Join Flyer AI, a pioneering startup in autonomous delivery drones.
- Benefits: Significant equity, competitive salary, unlimited paid time off, and immediate impact.
- Other info: Work closely with a passionate team and enjoy rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Be a founding engineer and shape the future of aviation technology.
- Qualifications: Strong background in aerodynamics, CFD, and hands-on engineering experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Drive aerodynamic design decisions across airframe performance, low-noise propellers, CFD, and flight-test learning, turning first-principles analysis into better real aircraft.
As a founding engineer for Aerodynamics at Flyer AI, you will own the aerodynamic thinking behind our aircraft, from low-noise propellers and airframe performance to CFD-driven design decisions and flight-test learning loops. This is not a purely academic role. You will use aerodynamic analysis to help us make better aircraft, better propellers, and better engineering decisions fast, then correlate that work against real hardware and real flight behaviour.
Our aircraft is a lift-plus-cruise autonomous delivery drone with unusually demanding constraints: low noise, good efficiency, practical manufacturability, and robust real-world operation. We need someone who is comfortable moving between first-principles reasoning, modelling and simulation, design trade-offs, and hands-on collaboration with the people building and testing the aircraft.
In the near term, a major part of the role is helping us develop quieter, better-matched propellers and making sound aerodynamic decisions on the D1 prototype. Over time, that work will feed directly into the design of our future production aircraft.
A small and focussed team has been developing our prototype aircraft for technical demonstrations and seed fundraising. Now in receipt of significant grant funding, Flyer is expanding the founding engineering team with critical roles. You will join onsite, working directly with the founder and the expanding team to take Flyer from technical startup to global phenomenon over the next five years.
What we’re looking for:
- Team players who live our values: passion, commitment, courage, integrity, and trust.
- Exceptional intelligence, first-principles reasoning, and strong engineering judgment under ambiguity.
- Strong grounding in aerodynamics, with the ability to turn theory into practical design decisions.
- Experience in aerodynamic analysis, modelling, or CFD for aircraft, propellers, or closely related systems.
- Ability to reason clearly about drag, lift, stability-related aerodynamic effects, and performance trade-offs.
- A fail-fast, forward-leaning mindset that takes measured risks to move fast.
- Comfort working closely with real prototypes, test results, and imperfect data rather than idealised textbook cases.
- Curiosity about using modern AI tools and coding agents as force multipliers, while keeping strong engineering judgment.
- Experience with propeller design, rotor aerodynamics, or aeroacoustics.
- Experience with low Reynolds number aerodynamics or small-aircraft / UAV design.
- Practical CFD workflow experience and awareness of its limitations.
- Experience correlating analysis or simulation against bench, wind-tunnel, or flight-test data.
- Familiarity with rapid prototyping and design iteration in a startup or R&D environment.
- Familiarity with commercial / open source UAV flight controllers and firmware.
What you’ll get:
- Significant Equity – as a founding team member, you will own a significant stake in the future we are building.
- Immediate Impact – you will be one of the first 6 employees, shaping the engineering culture from day one.
- Competitive salary – an initial stipend plus salary uplift following Q1 2026 fundraising.
- Unlimited paid time off – take what you need, when you need it.
Founding Engineer - Aerodynamics in Salisbury employer: Flyer Ai
At Flyer AI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a founding engineer in aerodynamics, you will not only have the opportunity to shape the future of autonomous delivery drones but also enjoy significant equity, unlimited paid time off, and the chance to make an immediate impact within a small, passionate team. Located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, our environment encourages hands-on collaboration and rapid prototyping, ensuring that your contributions directly influence the success of our groundbreaking technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Engineer - Aerodynamics in Salisbury
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Flyer Ai for a Founding Engineer - Aerodynamics. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Engineer - Aerodynamics in Salisbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Flyer Ai, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Flyer Ai, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Flyer Ai
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Flyer Ai.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Flyer Ai. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Flyer Ai love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
