About the job
We are seeking an experienced Lead CFD Engineer to oversee and conduct advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research for aerospace propulsion systems. In this role, you will lead high- and low-fidelity thermo-fluid simulations, define numerical modelling strategies, mentor junior researchers, and collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to drive propulsion-system innovation.
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Key Responsibilities
- Simulation & Analysis: Lead low-to-high-fidelity CFD simulations for air-breathing engines, rocket propulsion, combustors, nozzles, turbomachinery, and thermal management systems (including CHT, reacting, and multiphase flows).
- Modelling Strategy & Best Practices: Define and review CAD cleanup, meshing strategies, boundary conditions, numerical robustness, turbulence/combustion models, and verification & validation (V&V) protocols.
- Workflow Automation & Tools: Develop automated CFD pipelines, post-processing scripts, and numerical tools to accelerate design, performance assessment, and optimization.
- Technical Guidance & Mentorship: Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for numerical setups and result interpretation; guide and mentor junior researchers.
- Collaboration & V&V: Work with interdisciplinary teams (design, thermal, test, structures) and align CFD predictions with experimental test data.
- Research Dissemination: Document findings in technical reports, journal publications, patents, conference papers, and project reviews.
Job Specifications
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Education: PhD + 5 years, or MSc + 7 years of relevant experience in Aerospace, Aeronautical, or Mechanical Engineering (or a related field).
- Domain Expertise: Proven track record in aerospace propulsion CFD, including expertise in at least one key area: gas turbines, rocket propulsion, reacting flows/combustion, turbomachinery, high-speed compressible flows, or multiphase/CHT simulations.
- Software & Tools:
- CFD Solvers: Ansys Fluent, Siemens Simcenter STAR-CCM+, Metacomp CFD++, CONVERGE, or equivalent.
- Meshing: Ansys Fluent Meshing, ICEM CFD, Cadence Pointwise, or equivalent.
- Scripting/HPC: Python, C++, Linux Bash, MATLAB/Octave; experience submitting jobs in HPC environments.
- Technical Competence: Solid understanding of turbulence, combustion, and multiphase physical assumptions; strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
- Communication: Excellent English writing and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Skills (Considered a Plus)
- Advanced Physics: Finite-rate chemistry, spray/flamelet combustion, sliding mesh/rotor-stator interactions, regenerative cooling, or hypersonic plume simulations.
- Open-Source & Data Science: OpenFOAM, SU2, reduced-order modelling (ROM), uncertainty quantification (UQ), or AI/ML applications in CFD.
- Experimental V&V: Direct experience comparing CFD results with test bench/rig diagnostic data.
