Laura Pla Olea - Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker)

Q: Where is Laura based?

Laura is based in Barcelona, Spain and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Laura speak?

Laura speaks the following languages: Catalan/Valencian (Native), Spanish (Native), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Laura have?

Laura has at least 6 years of experience. During this time, Laura has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 5 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 1 month . Note that Laura may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Laura's latest experience?

Laura's most recent position is Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker) at Ford Motor Company .

Q: What companies has Laura worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Laura has worked for Ford Motor Company , Zipline , Kittyhawk , UC Irvine , Aeronautics, Dynamics, and and Control Laboratory .

Q: Which industries is Laura most experienced in?

Laura is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Education , and Automotive .

Q: Which business areas is Laura most experienced in?

Laura is most experienced in business areas like Product Development and Research and Development .

Q: Which industries has Laura worked in recently?

Laura has recently worked in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Education , and Automotive .

Q: Which business areas has Laura worked in recently?

Laura has recently worked in business areas like Product Development and Research and Development .

Recommended expert

Barcelona, Spain

Experience

Mar 2024 - Nov 2024

9 months

Irvine, United States

Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker)

Ford Motor Company

Redesigned aerodynamic components of electric vehicles using Blender and 3DX (CATIA), reducing drag and increasing range; improvements validated in wind tunnel testing.
Ran 100+ high-fidelity CFD simulations in STAR-CCM+ to characterize vehicle aerodynamics, directly informing design decisions across multiple EV programs.
Improved CFD predictions at key vehicle locations using test data and physical assumptions, resulting in 20% higher fidelity results provided to a collaborating team.
Led root cause analysis of CFD-to-wind-tunnel discrepancies, which heavily affected 5%+ of parts designed.
Developed multiphase (air-water) simulations using Fluid Film, Volume of Fluids (VOF), Lagrangian Multiphase (LMP), and Dispersed Multiphase (DMP) models to study rain and water effects on vehicles, improving sensor placement for visibility.
Developed custom in-house CFD postprocessing tools in Java (ParaView), reducing engineer analysis time by 50% and improving result clarity across the aerodynamics team.

Jun 2023 - Sep 2023

4 months

South San Francisco, United States

Applied Aerodynamics Intern

Zipline

Built a structured aerodynamic database of forces and moments for three UAV propellers, enabling the controls team to rapidly access and integrate flight-critical data.
Reduced postprocessing time of test data from the order of hours to just minutes by automating a data analysis pipeline using MATLAB for 150+ propeller tests.
Created experimental test plan and assisted systems test engineering team in experimental trial of propellers.
Designed stator spokes of two different propellers using Siemens NX to avoid resonance and noisy flow separation.
Performed and post-processed CFD simulations in STAR-CCM+ to optimize spokes' geometry and aeroacoustic performance.

Mar 2022 - Sep 2022

7 months

Palo Alto, United States

Loads & Dynamics Intern, Flight Physics Intern

Kittyhawk

Independently designed, validated, and delivered an in-house aerodynamic model in C++ for the Gazebo physics engine, achieving 12% accuracy improvement over the default model and extending applicability to high angles of attack.
Combined custom Python scripts with XFOIL and XROTOR to evaluate an innovative design for passive variable pitch propellers solely actuated by aerodynamic loads on the reflexed airfoils of the blades.
Conducted dimensional analysis to establish aerodynamic equivalence between full-size prototype and experimental test model.
Optimized dimensions of wing flaps using XFOIL for maximum aerodynamic and control efficiency in operational flight conditions.
Ensured compliance of structural load calculations for eVTOL aircraft with CFR Part 23 and Part 27 through rigorous code verification and documentation.

Apr 2020 - Jun 2023

3 years 3 months

Irvine, United States

Teaching Assistant

UC Irvine

Led discussions and tutorials for 180 undergraduate students in fluid mechanics classes, explaining basic concepts and advanced fluid dynamics principles.
Assessed 2,000+ assignments, quizzes, and exams, delivering structured feedback to support student development.
Advised students with personalized out-of-class assistance during office hours and targeted sessions.
Received consistently strong student evaluations, achieving an average rating of 3.93/4 across teaching surveys.

Jan 2019 - Dec 2023

5 years

Irvine, United States

Graduate Student Researcher

Aeronautics, Dynamics, and Control Laboratory

Developed a reduced-order model for unsteady aerodynamics of oscillating airfoils that reduced computational cost by orders of magnitude compared to classical methods, broadening applicability to previously intractable flight regimes.
Achieved up to 40% lift increase and 60% drag reduction by applying geometric nonlinear control theory to identify unconventional force generation and stabilization mechanisms.
Coded and analyzed Beddoes-Leishman model for dynamic stall and similar dynamical models in MATLAB to predict mean unsteady aerodynamic loads on a two-dimensional airfoil.

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Aerospace and Defense, Education, and Automotive.

Aerospace and Defense

Education

Automotive

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Product Development and Research and Development.

Product Development

Research and Development

Summary

Aerospace engineer with a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and 5+ years of research and industry experience in aerodynamic design and high-fidelity CFD simulation. Proven track record at companies including Ford Motor Company and Zipline, developing aerodynamic models and improving simulation accuracy.

Skills

Software: Microsoft Office, Windows (Os), Ubuntu (Os), Jira, Confluence, Latex, Git
Programming Languages: Matlab, Python, C++, Java, Arduino
Engineering Software: Blender, 3dx, Autocad, Solidworks, Siemens Nx, Star-ccm+, Ansys, Paraview, Periscope, Xfoil, Avl, Xrotor, Simulink

Languages

Catalan

Native

Spanish

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Oct 2018 - Dec 2023

University of California, Irvine

Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · Irvine, United States · 3.97/4

Oct 2018 - Dec 2019

University of California, Irvine

M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · Irvine, United States · 3.91/4

Oct 2017 - Dec 2019

Polytechnic University of Catalonia

M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering · Aeronautical Engineering · Terrassa, Spain · 9.13/10

...and 1 more

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 5

Experience in Aerospace and Defense 5 y

Avg length 1 y 11 m

Longest experience 4 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (United States)

Primary country United States

Expertise

Recent roles Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker), Applied Aerodynamics Intern, Loads & Dynamics Intern, Flight Physics Intern

Main industries Aerospace and Defense, Education, Automotive

Main business areas Product Development, Research and Development

Qualifications

Highest degree Doctorate

Profile

Created

March 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Laura based?

Laura is based in Barcelona, Spain and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Laura speak?

Laura speaks the following languages: Catalan/Valencian (Native), Spanish (Native), English (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Laura have?

Laura has at least 6 years of experience. During this time, Laura has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 1 month. Note that Laura may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Laura be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Laura would be well-suited for roles such as: Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker), Applied Aerodynamics Intern, Loads & Dynamics Intern, Flight Physics Intern.

What is Laura's latest experience?

Laura's most recent position is Aerodynamics Engineer (Student Worker) at Ford Motor Company.

What companies has Laura worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Laura has worked for Ford Motor Company, Zipline, Kittyhawk, UC Irvine, Aeronautics, Dynamics, and and Control Laboratory.

Which industries is Laura most experienced in?

Laura is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Education, and Automotive.

Which business areas is Laura most experienced in?

Laura is most experienced in business areas like Product Development and Research and Development.

Which industries has Laura worked in recently?

Laura has recently worked in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Education, and Automotive.

Which business areas has Laura worked in recently?

Laura has recently worked in business areas like Product Development and Research and Development.

What is Laura's education?

Laura holds a Doctorate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from University of California, Irvine, a Master in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from University of California, Irvine, a Master in Aeronautical Engineering from Polytechnic University of Catalonia and a Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering from Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

What is the availability of Laura?

Laura is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Laura?

Laura's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.