CFD Research Corporation
CFD Research Corporation is a 100% employee-owned research and development company founded in 1987. It develops technologies for aerospace, defense, space, life sciences, intelligence, sensing, materials and energy customers, specialising in modeling and simulation, software engineering, prototyping, testing and technology integration. It holds government contract vehicles including GSA OASIS+ and the Air Force's EWAAC and TETRAS II contracts.
In Huntsville, AL
CFD Research is headquartered at 6820 Moquin Drive NW in Huntsville's Cummings Research Park, where it was founded in 1987. It is a small business prime on the EXPRESS blanket purchase agreement, which Army Contracting Command–Redstone uses for engineering and advisory services to Team Redstone, and its NASA work has earned Marshall Space Flight Center invention and team awards. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber named it the 2024 Engineering/Defense Business of the Year (medium category).
About CFD Research Corporation in Huntsville, AL
CFD Research Corporation is a 100% employee-owned research and development company, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Huntsville's Cummings Research Park. It develops technologies for aerospace, defense, space, life sciences, intelligence, sensing, materials and energy, from early research through prototyping, testing and technology integration; the company says it was founded on modeling and simulation and has added cyber and data sciences and drug discovery. Besides its headquarters it lists an Engineering Test Center in Hollywood, Alabama, a Dayton operations center in Beavercreek, Ohio, and Eglin operations in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Its Huntsville work ties to Redstone Arsenal and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. CFD Research holds the EXPRESS blanket purchase agreement as a small business prime, the vehicle Army Contracting Command–Redstone uses for engineering and advisory services to the Army's Aviation and Missile Center and its aviation, missile and space program offices. Its NASA awards include Marshall Space Flight Center Invention of the Year (2016) and a Marshall Innovation Team Award (2018). The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber named it the 2024 Engineering/Defense Business of the Year (medium category).
Culture & Work Environment
CFD Research says its culture is rooted in collaboration, creativity and continuous improvement, and that as a 100% employee-owned company its people are its greatest strength. It lists five values: pursue our passions, many individuals one team, every second matters, we are in this together, and build better people. On its careers page the company says engineers interested in R&D are guided to take part in proposals and new technology development, that publishing work and collaborating with other research institutes are common, and that selected designs are patented and commercialised. It was named 2025 Employee-Owned Company of the Year by the Southeast Chapter of the ESOP Association.
Hiring Process & Timeline
Apply through the current openings linked from CFD Research's careers page. The company does not publish a hiring timeline. A typical process at a small R&D company is a resume review, a phone screen, and technical interviews with the team, which may include discussing your research, publications or past projects in depth. Many roles are funded by government research contracts such as SBIR awards and contract vehicles such as EXPRESS, so check the listing for the customer area the role supports and any clearance or citizenship requirement. The company says it offers reasonable accommodation during the application process on request.
Interview Tips
Read up on the business area behind the role. CFD Research describes its work in defense, space and biosciences and its core capabilities in modeling and simulation, software engineering, prototyping, test and evaluation, cyber and data sciences. Be ready to discuss technical work in depth: the methods you used, how you validated results, and what came of them. Because the company says it involves engineers in proposals and encourages publication and patents, examples of writing proposals or papers, or turning research into a prototype, are relevant. Show that you would fit an employee-owned company that values teamwork and continuous learning, as its stated values say.
Security Clearance Requirements
Requirements depend on the program. CFD Research works for defense, intelligence and space customers as well as life sciences and commercial ones, so some roles require a security clearance and others may not. U.S. citizenship can also be required for export-controlled research. Each listing states its own clearance and citizenship requirements. For how clearance levels and processing work in general, see the clearances guide on this site.
Compensation & Salary
For pay figures, check the posted ranges in CFD Research's current listings on this site. The company says performance appraisals happen each year and that group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance. The company lists PPO and HDHP medical plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield; dental and vision; basic life, long-term disability and AD&D insurance, with optional short-term disability, voluntary life and supplemental cover; paid personal leave that grows with years of service, holidays on the federal schedule, parental leave, comp time and bereavement leave; a 401(k) with a matching program; an Employee Stock Ownership Plan with annual contributions based on company performance; tuition reimbursement; and, for Huntsville employees, a corporate care clinic run with Huntsville Hospital.
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