Senior Aerothermal Engineer

A Contract position - Outside IR35 Hybrid working - 3 days pw on site Our client, a leading company in the aerospace sector, is currently seeking a Senior Aerothermal Engineer to lead the aerothermal design and development of air delivery systems for hydrogen fuel cell powertrains. This role is ideal for an experienced aerospace engineer with deep expertise in air system architecture, turbomachinery, and thermo-fluid analysis, who can take full technical ownership from concept generation through certification-ready design, testing, and supplier integration. Acting as a subject matter expert, the successful candidate will work across multidisciplinary teams and the supply chain to develop, analyse, and validate fuel cell cathode and air delivery systems using first-principles analysis, simulation, and empirical testing, supporting the certification and deployment of current and future zero-emission propulsion systems. Candidates must have proven Aerospace experience - air supply systems, air filters, compressors, heat exchangers etc Key Responsibilities: Own all aspects of fuel cell cathode system development, including system architecture, requirements capture, equipment design development, and testing. Lead aerothermal concept generation through to development of system architecture, requirements, and design substantiation documents. Analyse air delivery systems and components to define lower level functional and performance requirements. Proactively lead internal stakeholders and supply chain on the implementation of air delivery system equipment such as electric compressors, filters, valves, heat exchangers, fluid conveyance and instrumentation. Develop strategies and capabilities for component level engineering evaluation testing including design, installation and commissioning of equipment test rigs. Host, participate in, and present at internal and external design and project reviews. Experience and Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with implementing compressed air systems and equipment. Direct experience with hydrogen fuel cell systems is an advantage. Experience in high-speed turbomachinery (compressors, turbines) and associated system architectures. Familiarity with hardware such as compressors, filters, valves, humidifiers, and sensors. Experience in developing air delivery equipment test rigs including instrumentation and data acquisition systems. Knowledge of programming environments such as LabVIEW is a plus. Experience with high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems and power electronics is a plus. User of MATLAB Simulink/Simscape or similar 1D thermo-fluid software. Experience with commercial CFD codes like Ansys Fluent/CFX. Working knowledge of CAD and PLM tools like Siemens NX, Teamcenter. Use of requirements management tools such as Polarion. Related aerospace industry experience. Excellent interpersonal skills and level of spoken and written English. Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of an Integrated Project Team. If you are a diligent and results-focused Aerospace Engineer with a dynamic approach to complex problem solving, we encourage you to apply. Take this opportunity to join our client's innovative team and contribute to the future of zero-emission propulsion systems. Apply now