Aerodynamicist

Aptera Motorsis dedicated to building a future where every journey is powered by the sun. We specialize in creating solar electric vehicles that revolutionize the way we travel, providing sustainable and efficient transportation solutions.Company Cultureis built on transparency, ethical treatment of one another, a bias for action, and leading by example.TitleCarlsbad, California | Engineering | Full-timeAbout the roleAptera has already done the hard part: designing one of the most aerodynamically efficient vehicles ever built for public roads. Your job is to make sure it stays that way - through production, iteration, and every engineering decision that touches airflow.This is a highly collaborative, detail-oriented role. You will be the aerodynamics conscience of the vehicle program - partnering daily with founders, the SVP of Engineering, and cross functional team leads to ensure that the low-drag, high-efficiency ethos is preserved at every stage of design and build.What you'll doOwn aerodynamic integrity of the production vehicle. Review and approve (or flag) panel gaps, fit tolerances, surface changes, and design modifications before they ship because at CdProven you can think rigorously about aerodynamics in a resource-constrained, high stakes environment.Competition background strongly preferred - SCCA road racing, SAE Supermileage, Formula SAE, or a university solar car team (e.g., American Solar Challenge, World Solar Challenge). If you've stayed up until 2am arguing about a spoiler lip angle, you're an ideal candidate.Hands-on CFD experience - STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or similar.Skilled to set up a simulation, but more importantly, you know when not to trust it.Correlation with the real world - You know what to do when simulated results don't match wind tunnel results, and those don't match the track data.Systems thinking - you can hold Cd, weight, battery range, thermal management, and manufacturing cost in your head at once and communicate the trade-offs clearly to non-aero engineers.Execution focus - the vehicle exists. Your most important job isn't reimagining it; it's protecting what makes it extraordinary while helping it get better.Preferred QualificationsCompetitive racing or solar vehicle program experience.Familiarity with automotive surface modeling (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks).Experience with pressure tap instrumentation, wake surveys, or flow visualization techniques.Wind tunnel experience - academic or commercial - including instrumentation setup and data reduction.Comfort with clay modeling and surface modification for rapid shape iteration.Valid driver's license and genuine comfort behind the wheel of a test vehicle.Team StructureIndividual contributor; collaborate with other teams and individuals, as necessaryRequired ExperiencePractical aerodynamic analysis experience: CFD, physical testing, or both.Strong communicator - you can explain drag penalties to others without being condescending.Educational RequirementsB.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Automotive Engineering (or equivalent demonstrated experience)Salary + BenefitsMarket competitive compensation packageStock option grantsFully funded benefits package for employee + dependentsGenerous Flexible Time Away policy