At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Computational Aeroelasticity Software Developer
Position Overview
Cadence Design Systems is seeking a highly motivated Computational Aeroelasticity Software Developer to contribute to the development of next-generation aeroelastic and aerothermoelastic simulation technologies spanning subsonic through hypersonic flight applications. This role is ideal for a recent Ph.D. graduate, postdoctoral researcher, or early-career engineer with research experience in computational aeroelasticity, multidisciplinary simulation, scientific computing, or related fields.
Key Responsibilities
Computational Aeroelasticity & Aerothermoelasticity Development
Contribute to the development, verification, validation, and deployment of advanced aeroelastic simulation capabilities, including:
Low-Fidelity Methods
- Panel methods, Doublet Lattice Method (DLM), and Vortex Lattice Method (VLM)
- Generalized aerodynamic force generation
- Linearized and frequency-domain aerodynamic modeling
Medium-Fidelity Methods
- Hybrid CFD-panel methodologies
- Reduced-order and surrogate modeling
- Transonic correction techniques
- Time-domain aeroelastic formulations
- Flexible vehicle dynamic simulation methods
High-Fidelity Methods
CFD-based aeroelasticity using Euler and Navier-Stokes solvers
Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and CFD-CSD coupling
Nonlinear aeroelasticity and aerothermoelasticity
High-speed and hypersonic aeroelastic analysis
Support the development of solutions for:
Static and dynamic aeroelasticity
Flutter prediction
Divergence and control reversal
Gust response and aeroservoelasticity
Buffet response and limit-cycle oscillations
Nonlinear aeroelastic behavior
Work with senior technical staff to transition advanced research concepts into production-quality commercial software.
Hypersonic & High-Speed Flight Simulation
Contribute to the development of simulation technologies for high-speed and hypersonic vehicle applications, including:
Hypersonic aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics
Shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions
Thermal-structural coupling and aerothermoelasticity
High-temperature flight environments
Flight stability and control at high Mach numbers
Participate in the implementation and validation of numerical methods such as:
Piston theory
Supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamic methods
Shock-expansion techniques
Reduced-order models
CFD-based aeroelastic methodologies
Prior research experience in or more of these areas is highly desirable.
Multidisciplinary Simulation & Structural Dynamics
Collaborate with structural dynamics, CFD, and multiphysics development teams to build integrated simulation workflows
- Contribute to: - Modal analysis and structural dynamics
Dynamic response analysis
Eigenvalue extraction methods
Coupled aerodynamic-structural simulations
Thermal stress and buckling analyses
Large-scale finite element modeling
Support applications involving:
Commercial and military aircraft
Rotorcraft and UAVs
Hypersonic vehicles
Space and launch systems
Advanced aerospace and defense platforms
Scientific Software Development
Develop robust and scalable commercial software capabilities, including:
- Numerical algorithms and solver development
- Scientific software architecture
- APIs and workflow automation
- Multiphysics integration frameworks
- Verification and validation methodologies
- Automated testing and continuous integration practices
Participate in the full software development lifecycle from research prototype to commercial product deployment.
High-Performance Computing
Contribute to the development and optimization of scalable simulation technologies using:
- Parallel computing concepts
- MPI, OpenMP, GPU, or accelerator technologies
- Cloud and distributed computing environments
Optimize algorithms for large-scale engineering simulations and advanced aerospace workflows. Prior experience is beneficial but not required.
Customer & Industry Engagement
Work with technical experts, product teams, and customers to:
- Understand aerospace simulation requirements
- Support technical demonstrations
Required Qualifications
Education
- Ph.D. with outstanding research experience in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Computational Engineering, or a related field.
- Research specialization in computational aeroelasticity, aerodynamics, CFD, structural dynamics, or multidisciplinary simulation.
Experience
- 0–5 years of industrial experience, or equivalent graduate/postdoctoral research experience.
- Demonstrated research experience in aeroelasticity spanning low to high speed flight regimes.
- Experience developing research software, computational tools, or numerical simulation capabilities.
- Ability to translate research concepts into practical engineering solutions.
- Record of technical publications, research projects, or thesis work in relevant areas.
Technical Skills
Aerodynamics
- Knowledge of potential flow methods, panel methods, DLM, or VLM
- Understanding of subsonic, transonic, supersonic, or hypersonic aerodynamics
- Familiarity with CFD fundamentals and numerical methods
Aeroelasticity
- Coursework or research in flutter, dynamic aeroelasticity, gust response, or aeroservoelasticity
- Familiarity with aeroelastic modeling and reduced-order methods
- Exposure to aerothermoelasticity or high-speed aeroelasticity is a plus
Structural Dynamics & FEA
- Modal analysis and structural dynamics fundamentals
- Finite element methods and numerical analysis
- Dynamic response and eigenvalue analysis
Software Development
- Programming experience in C++ and Python.
- Experience developing scientific or engineering software leveraging AI
- Experience in software engineering best practices
High-Performance Computing
- Familiarity with parallel computing concepts
- Exposure to MPI, OpenMP, CUDA, GPU computing is desirable
Professional Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Passion for computational engineering and simulation technology
- Ability to learn new technical domains quickly
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
- Customer-focused mindset with strong collaboration skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. research focused on computational aeroelasticity, aerothermoelasticity, CFD, structural dynamics, or hypersonics
- Publications in recognized aerospace journals or conferences
- Experience with commercial or research simulation tools such as MSC Nastran, Abaqus, ZAERO, FUN3D, SU2, SCFLOW, Fidelity, CHARLES, Fluent, STAR-CCM+, CFD++, or equivalent
- Experience with multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO)
- Exposure to machine learning, AI, or reduced-order modeling techniques
- Experience with HPC environments and large-scale simulations
- Participation in collaborative research programs with aerospace organizations, government laboratories, or universities
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