About Skyeton, Inc Skyeton is an aerospace and defense technology company focused on the design, production, and support of advanced unmanned aerial systems. At our growing Fayetteville, North Carolina operation, employees help establish and scale U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities that support demanding customer missions. Company Culture Skyeton combines the energy of a growing organization with the discipline required in aerospace manufacturing. We value teamwork, accountability, practical problem-solving, precise execution, and a willingness to improve. Our people make a difference, and every employee contributes directly to product quality, operational readiness, and customer success.
About the role The Aero Engineer develops and validates the aerodynamic design, aircraft performance, stability, control, and flight-mechanics characteristics of Skyeton fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. This position uses analytical methods, simulation, computational tools, ground testing, and flight-test data to translate mission requirements into safe, efficient, and operationally effective aircraft configurations. The Aero Engineer works closely with systems, flight controls, mechanical, propulsion, avionics, payload, manufacturing, and flight-operations teams throughout concept development, design integration, verification, production support, and aircraft sustainment. Success requires strong technical judgment, disciplined analysis, clear documentation, and the ability to connect aerodynamic decisions to mission performance and real-world flight behavior. What you'll do
- • Develop and evaluate aerodynamic configurations for long-endurance fixed-wing UAS, including wings, airfoils, fuselage, empennage, control surfaces, propulsion integration, payload installations, antennas, and external features
- Translate mission, customer, environmental, payload, endurance, range, altitude, speed, launch, recovery, handling-quality, and safety requirements into aerodynamic and aircraft-performance objectives
- Perform aerodynamic analysis using hand calculations, engineering models, computational fluid dynamics, empirical methods, wind-tunnel data, and flight-test results as appropriate
- Develop and maintain aircraft performance models, drag polars, aerodynamic databases, stability derivatives, mass-property inputs, atmosphere assumptions, and simulation parameters
- Analyze takeoff or launch, climb, cruise, loiter, descent, landing or recovery, turning, stall, endurance, range, energy, and payload-performance characteristics
- Evaluate longitudinal, lateral, and directional static and dynamic stability, controllability, control authority, trim, handling qualities, and operating-envelope limitations
- Support flight-control-law development and tuning by providing aerodynamic models, control-effectiveness data, stability assessments, gain-scheduling inputs, and evaluation of simulated and flight behavior
- Conduct configuration trade studies involving lift, drag, endurance, range, stability, weight, balance, propulsion, payload integration, structural constraints, manufacturability, cost, and operational risk
- Assess aerodynamic effects of design changes, manufacturing tolerances, surface finish, gaps, damage, icing or contamination, antenna placement, payloads, repairs, and field modifications
- Define aerodynamic, performance, and flight-mechanics requirements, verification methods, acceptance criteria, test points, instrumentation needs, and data-quality expectations
- Plan and support wind-tunnel, ground, taxi, propulsion, system-identification, envelope-expansion, performance, handling-quality, and mission-representative flight tests
- Prepare test cards, predictions, safety considerations, flight envelopes, go or no-go criteria, real-time monitoring parameters, and post-flight analysis products
- Reduce and analyze flight-test data; compare measured results with predictions and simulation; identify discrepancies, uncertainty, and required model or design updates
- Support aircraft weight-and-balance activities, center-of-gravity envelope development, mass-property control, and evaluation of payload and fuel-loading configurations
- Collaborate with propulsion engineers on propeller, engine, cooling-flow, inlet, exhaust, and airframe-integration effects that influence thrust, drag, efficiency, and controllability
- Collaborate with mechanical and structural engineers to develop aerodynamic shapes and interfaces that are lightweight, producible, maintainable, and compatible with structural and manufacturing constraints
- Support aircraft configuration control by maintaining analysis inputs, model versions, assumptions, requirements traceability, technical reports, and approved performance data
- Investigate flight anomalies, performance shortfalls, stability or control concerns, and field-reported issues using structured data analysis and root-cause methods
- Participate in system requirements, architecture, preliminary design, critical design, test-readiness, flight-readiness, production-readiness, and airworthiness reviews
- Prepare technical reports, aerodynamic data packages, performance charts, operating limitations, proposal inputs, customer briefings, and engineering recommendations
- Support production aircraft acceptance, flight-test readiness, customer demonstrations, deployments, training, and sustainment activities as program needs require
- Ensure work complies with approved engineering processes, flight-safety practices, AS9100 requirements, customer obligations, proprietary-information controls, and ITAR/EAR requirements
- Contribute to standard analysis methods, reusable models, lessons learned, technical mentoring, and continuous improvement of Skyeton engineering practices
- Perform other duties consistent with aerodynamic engineering and program needs
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline
- Three or more years of relevant experience in aerodynamics, aircraft performance, flight mechanics, stability and control, flight sciences, or aircraft design
- Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aircraft performance, stability and control, atmospheric effects, and fixed-wing aircraft design
- Experience developing or using aerodynamic and aircraft-performance models to support design decisions, simulation, verification, or flight testing
- Proficiency with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or comparable engineering analysis and data-processing tools
- Experience analyzing flight-test or experimental data, evaluating model correlation, documenting uncertainty, and presenting evidence-based conclusions
- Ability to define technical requirements, assumptions, verification methods, test conditions, and acceptance criteria
- Understanding of aircraft weight and balance, center-of-gravity effects, propulsion-airframe interaction, control-surface effectiveness, and flight-envelope development
- Ability to produce clear technical reports, analyses, presentations, performance charts, and configuration-specific recommendations
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, test, flight-operations, and program teams
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, work with limited supervision, and make sound technical decisions in a fast-moving development environment
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally to support testing, customers, demonstrations, or deployments as required
- Must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable ITAR/EAR regulations and be able to obtain and maintain required customer or government clearances Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in aerospace or aeronautical engineering with emphasis in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, controls, or aircraft design
- Experience with Group 2 or Group 3 UAS, long-endurance fixed-wing aircraft, military aircraft, ISR platforms, or autonomous aviation systems
- Experience with low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics, propeller-driven aircraft, high-aspect-ratio wings, endurance optimization, or unconventional launch and recovery systems
- Experience with computational fluid dynamics tools such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, SU2, or comparable software
- Experience with aerodynamic prediction and design tools such as XFOIL, AVL, Digital DATCOM, OpenVSP, VSPAERO, or comparable methods
- Experience with six-degree-of-freedom simulation, hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing, system identification, or flight-control development
- Experience planning or executing flight-test programs, envelope expansion, performance testing, handling-quality evaluation, or airworthiness substantiation
- Familiarity with FAA, military, NATO, or other recognized airworthiness and flight-test standards applicable to unmanned aircraft
- Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense programs, international defense customers, government contracts, or deployed aviation operations
- Active or previously held U.S. security clearance Skills & Competencies
- Aerodynamic design and configuration trade studies
- Aircraft performance, flight mechanics, stability, and control analysis
- Computational modeling, simulation, and engineering data analysis
- Flight-test planning, data reduction, model correlation, and technical reporting
- Requirements interpretation, verification planning, and configuration control
- Multidisciplinary aircraft integration and practical engineering judgment
- Root-cause analysis, risk identification, and disciplined problem-solving
- Clear technical communication, collaboration, and mission-focused decision-making
Benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Medical insurance: company-paid employee coverage
- Dental and vision insurance
- Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
- Career growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding aerospace organization
- Opportunity to shape the aerodynamic performance of advanced unmanned aircraft supporting critical missions Work Environment
- Full-time position based on-site in North Las Vegas, Nevada
- Work is performed in office, engineering, laboratory, hangar, flight-line, test-site, customer, and field environments as program needs require
- Regular interaction with engineers, technicians, production teams, flight crews, suppliers, customers, partners, and international stakeholders
- Domestic and international travel may be required and can include test-site, customer-site, or deployment support outside normal business hours
- Ability to safely access active aircraft and test areas; use appropriate personal protective equipment; and comply with safety, security, confidentiality, cybersecurity, and export-control requirements
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, use standard engineering and test equipment, and lift or move items weighing up to 35 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation Equal Opportunity Statement Skyeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. This position is subject to U.S. export-control regulations (ITAR/EAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons as defined by applicable law. A pre-employment background check, drug screen, and reference verification are required. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain any clearances required by Skyeton customers and contracts.