Ken Friedman

About Ken Friedman

Senior Aerodynamicist with an extensive record in both fixed wing and rotorcraft development. Skilled in applied CFD (both steady state and unsteady), blade element models, rotor and propeller blade design, optimization, testing, and CFD-based validation. Supported dynamic models, sensor selection, test, and system integration. Team leader in developing jets, eVTOL, and long endurance aircraft projects starting from the conceptual design phase, vehicle aerodynamic development, aerodynamic loads generation, dynamic model building, short-timeline ADB generation (days, not weeks), and vehicle performance enhancement and tracking. Experienced in designing and carrying out wind tunnel tests, including model requirements, pre-test predictions, and post-test data processing and validation. Works well with both established companies and startups. Experienced in standing up teams with diverse flight physics knowledge, setting workflows and team-wide standards, goals, and tracking members’ development as individual contributors. Skilled in setting up HPC resources both on-premise and cloud-based including automation tools for organized CFD job submission.

Experience

1. Senior Aerodynamics Engineer

   Mach Industries

   Feb 2024 — Present

   Aerodynamic simulations, performance estimates, OML studies.

Education

• Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

  Master of Science (M.Sc.), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

  2004 — 2006

• University of Maryland

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

  2008 — 2013

• Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

  B.Sc., Aerospace Engineering

  2000 — 2004

• University of Maryland

  Master of Science (MS), Rotorcraft Engineering, Minor in Controls

  2008 — 2012