Lead CFD Engineer - Weapon Performance

Zone 5 Technologies, Fort Walton Beach, Florida +4

The role

We are seeking an experienced CFD Lead to join our Weapons Performance team. In this role, you will lead computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to characterize the aerodynamic and ballistic performance of Zone 5's air-launched effects, tactical interceptors, and next-generation munitions — from early concept and trade studies through wind tunnel and flight test correlation to fielded performance.

We're looking for a technical leader with an entrepreneurial mindset: someone who takes personal responsibility for the success of the systems they help build, has a bias toward action, and treats program performance as a personal stake. You will work within your organization to help set technical direction for CFD, mentor other aerodynamicists using CFD, and partner closely with Propulsion, GNC, Design, Analysis, Systems Engineering, and Flight Test to ensure our systems perform reliably under demanding launch, flight, and terminal conditions.

All jobs

Lead CFD Engineer - Weapon Performance

Zone 5 Technologies, Fort Walton Beach, Florida +4

Posted pay

$149K–$220K

a year

Compared with similar jobs

This base pay is near the median for senior software engineering jobs that are remote in the US.

Median: $185K a year
Other jobs in the group: 936

We compare the middle of each posted range. This is base pay as posted. The group does not include this job.

Location: Fort Walton Beach, Florida +4
Work type: Remote
Level: Senior
Experience: 8+ years
Skills in the job text: Python
Linux
MATLAB
Posted: Oct 6, 2026
Last check: 6 h ago
Job type: Software engineering

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Zone 5 Technologies

Open tech jobs: 28
With posted pay: 100%
Median posted base: $161K–$222K

About Zone 5 Technologies: funding, hiring and pay

Zone 5 Technologies

About Zone 5 Technologies: funding, hiring and pay

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The role

What you need

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field required; Master's degree typical for candidates at this level, though exceptional applied experience can substitute.
8+ years of experience performing and leading CFD analysis in an applied, product-centric, program-driven environment, leading the technical approach across multiple full vehicle programs — from conceptual design through wind tunnel, flight test, and production.
Proficiency with CFD solvers commonly used in aerospace/defense aerodynamics (e.g., CFD++, OVERFLOW, FUN3D, STAR-CCM+, or ANSYS Fluent) for compressible, high-speed flow, along with meshing and grid-generation tools such as Pointwise, ANSA, and Chimera Grid Tools, and overset grid assembly for complex multi-body geometries.
Proficiency with CFD/FEA post-processing and visualization tools such as ParaView, FieldView, and ANSYS Workbench for data reduction, visualization, and correlation of results across disciplines.
Experience characterizing aerodynamic performance of missiles, munitions, rockets, or other high-speed vehicles, including store separation and base drag effects.
Experience validating and correlating CFD results against wind tunnel or flight test data
Hands-on experience working alongside real flight hardware — wind tunnel models, instrumented test articles, or flight test vehicles — rather than working from simulation data alone.
Experience making or directly informing safety-critical engineering decisions, with the judgment and integrity to discern credible simulation results from questionable ones.
Experience where your CFD analysis directly informed a design decision, program milestone, or fielded outcome, not just standalone technical results.
Experience building and maintaining CFD validation libraries — reference cases and benchmark comparisons used to check new analysis against established, trusted results.
Experience working with a team to establish and document CFD analysis standards, procedures, and workflows — helping make methods repeatable and consistent across a group, not just performing analysis yourself.
Programming or scripting proficiency (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for CFD automation, post-processing, and data reduction.
Working knowledge of Linux system administration and HPC cluster environments (e.g., job scheduling, resource allocation, environment/module management) sufficient to run and troubleshoot CFD workloads independently, down to the interconnect if need be.
Strong experience with version control (e.g., Git, SVN) for CFD codebases and the batch/automation scripts that run them.
Experience generating aerodynamic coefficient databases for use in 6-DOF trajectory or flight simulation.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting technical results at design reviews and supporting proposal/capture efforts.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. DoD Secret security clearance; must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR regulations.

Lead CFD Engineer - Weapon Performance

The role

Lead CFD Engineer - Weapon Performance

The role

What you will do

What you need

Pay and benefits

Pay range for this role

Benefits

About Zone 5 Technologies

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