Is 100% remote CFD work actually achievable in Europe?
I'm a South Korean national based in Prague, Czech Republic, with 7 years of CFD experience (including a 1-year internship). My background is in aerospace engineering from a German university, German C1 (lived in Germany for 7 years), English around B2. My current job is also at a German company (but based in CZ), so all project reports and meetings are conducted entirely in German.
The CFD job market in Prague is pretty much dead. A few years ago there were at least some openings at larger automotive companies, but now it's almost nothing. Last year Manuvia had something near the Skoda HQ, and Valeo Prague posted a CFD role a few months back, but that's about it. The only realistic options seem to be small local engineering firms.
My current job is technically hybrid (3 days WFH), but the office is so far that I'm waking up at 4 AM on office days just to beat traffic. Round trip is 220 km. The salary is fine, but 25,000 km/year in fuel and maintenance is quietly draining me.
My plan would be to register as a freelancer in Czech Republic and work remotely for a company elsewhere in Europe, ideally Germany given my language background. Is this actually realistic for CFD, or is it still the kind of field where companies want you on-site? Any experiences or advice appreciated.