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Cfd Engineer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Fluid Dynamicist

Portland, OR · On-site

$73K - $99K/yr

You will work with our Principal Fluid Dynamicist and collaborate closely with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), controls, optimization, mechanical engineering, metocean, and fleet performance ...

Cooling System Design Engineer

Eugene, OR · On-site

$101K - $138K/yr

Support CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analyses for airflow management and thermal optimization ... Provide engineering support during procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover ...

New

Experience using CFD tools and methodologies. * Ability to develop thermal models from CAD concepts ... They bring a strong engineering foundation, thrive in cross‑functional environments, and are ...

Experience using CFD tools and methodologies. * Ability to develop thermal models from CAD concepts ... They bring a strong engineering foundation, thrive in cross-functional environments, and are ...

What you'll do Build Multiphysics models (Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element (FEA ... Collaborate with global engineering teams across the US, Europe, and Asia to simulate and solve ...

Design Engineer II SIG SAUER, Inc . is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro ... Motion, FEA, CFD, Python, Zemax, or other software. * Conduct PLM (product lifecycle management ...

Design Engineer II SIG SAUER, Inc . is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro ... Motion, FEA, CFD, Python, Zemax, or other software. * Conduct PLM (product lifecycle management ...

Showing results 21-40

Cfd Engineer information

See Oregon salary details

$11.6K

$98.3K

$139.6K

How much do cfd engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for cfd engineer in Oregon is $98,343.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,400.00 and $116,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a CFD engineer?

As a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineer, your responsibilities are to use CFD formulas to predict fluid flows and heat transfers. You use software applications such as OpenFOAM or Gerris to compute the finite element method and the finite volume method, which use partial differential equations to create two- or three-dimensional models and simulations. Your job duties include analyzing problems, building models, and proposing solutions. Your experience makes you a valuable part of research and development teams in the mechanical and chemical engineering industries as well as the automobile, aerospace, and aeronautical industries.

What are some common challenges CFD engineers face when working on complex simulation projects?

CFD Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing simulation accuracy with computational resources and time constraints. Handling large and intricate geometries can lead to long computation times and may require advanced meshing strategies or high-performance computing. Additionally, accurately modeling boundary conditions and physical phenomena, especially in multiphase or turbulent flows, demands a deep understanding of fluid dynamics and software capabilities. Effective collaboration with design, testing, and product teams is also crucial to validate simulation results and implement practical solutions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a CFD engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CFD Engineer, you need a strong background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and numerical methods, usually supported by a degree in mechanical, aerospace, or chemical engineering. Expertise in CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or STAR-CCM+, along with programming skills in Python or MATLAB, is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and clear communication help you interpret complex data and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for delivering accurate simulations, optimizing designs, and supporting engineering decisions in industries where fluid behavior is critical.

What is the difference between Cfd Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectCfd EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related fields; proficiency in CFD softwareBachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; often includes CFD knowledge
Work EnvironmentDesign firms, aerospace, automotive, energy sectors; focus on fluid dynamics simulationsManufacturing, product design, HVAC; broader engineering tasks including mechanics and thermodynamics
Industry UsagePrimarily in industries requiring fluid flow analysisWider industry application including structural and thermal systems

While both roles require a background in mechanical engineering and CFD software, Cfd Engineers specialize in fluid dynamics simulations, whereas Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope including mechanics, thermodynamics, and design. Cfd Engineers focus more on computational analysis, while Mechanical Engineers may handle a wider range of engineering tasks.

Are CFD engineers in demand?

CFD engineers are in demand in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and energy, where computational fluid dynamics simulations are essential for product design and optimization. The role often requires proficiency with simulation software like ANSYS or OpenFOAM and a strong background in fluid mechanics and programming. Job growth is driven by increasing reliance on simulation for cost-effective and efficient engineering solutions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon?

The most popular types of Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon are:

What are popular job titles related to Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon?

For Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon look for?

The top searched job categories for Cfd Engineer jobs in Oregon are:

What are popular job titles related to Cfd Engineer jobs in OR?

For Cfd Engineer jobs in OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Cfd Engineer job openings in Oregon as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,343 per year, or $47.3 per hour.

Fluid Dynamicist

Portland, OR • On-site

$73K - $99K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

About the Company
We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.
The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company's direction on a regular basis.
Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.
About the Job
As a Fluid Dynamicist, you will help develop, validate, and apply the fast-running physics-based tools that drive Panthalassa's design, optimization, and fleet deployment decisions. You will work with our Principal Fluid Dynamicist and collaborate closely with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), controls, optimization, mechanical engineering, metocean, and fleet performance teams.
This role focuses on reduced-order and mid-fidelity marine hydrodynamics tools, including boundary element method (BEM) models, fleet deployment simulators, OrcaFlex models, metocean-driven performance analyses, and external-function links to our time-domain device simulators. You will write production-quality engineering code, run analyses, process results, communicate findings, debug model behavior, and identify opportunities to improve our fast-running simulation stack.
The ideal candidate has strong fundamentals in marine hydrodynamics, understands BEM concepts, is highly capable in Python, and can move fluidly between theory, code, simulation results, and engineering decisions. This person will independently own major modeling and simulation workstreams.
Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company's direction on a regular basis. You will own your designs cradle-to-grave, from first concept through fabrication and deployment at sea. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.
Responsibilities
  • Develop, maintain, validate, and apply fast-running hydrodynamics models used for design, optimization, controls, and fleet deployment analysis.
  • Work with boundary element method models, reduced-order hydrodynamic models, fleet deployment simulators, and OrcaFlex models.
  • Develop Python engineering tools to interface with modeling codes written in Julia and Python.
  • Build and maintain external-function links, data interfaces, and workflow glue between hydrodynamics models, simulation tools, optimization pipelines, and analysis scripts.
  • Run analyses using metocean reanalysis data, measured ocean data, sea-state statistics, wave spectra, current profiles, and other environmental inputs.
  • Process, visualize, and interpret simulation results to evaluate power, propulsion, structural loading, motion, operability, survivability, and other performance metrics.
  • Compare fast-running model outputs against CFD, experimental data, sea-trial data, OrcaFlex results, and higher-fidelity simulations.
  • Identify and debug issues in hydrodynamic models, simulation workflows, input datasets, post-processing scripts, and coupled simulation interfaces.
  • Collaborate within the CFD team to understand where high-fidelity results can improve reduced-order models and where reduced-order tools can guide CFD validation priorities.
  • Collaborate with optimization and controls teams to ensure that fast-running tools are accurate, robust, and useful for design-space exploration and operational decision-making.
  • Develop new analysis methods and identify additional uses for fast-running simulation tools across the company.
  • Write clear documentation, technical notes, plots, and presentations that communicate methods, assumptions, results, limitations, and recommendations.
  • Use modern software and AI-assisted development tools effectively to accelerate coding, debugging, analysis, and documentation while maintaining strong engineering judgment and code review discipline.
Required Qualifications
  • Legal authorization to work in the United States.
  • Bachelor's degree in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar field.
  • Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, marine hydrodynamics, waves, rigid body dynamics, and physics-based modeling.
  • Strong proficiency in Python for scientific computing, engineering analysis, data processing, and tool development.
  • Understanding of boundary element method concepts and their application to marine hydrodynamics.
  • Ability to run simulations, process results, identify anomalies, debug issues, and communicate findings clearly.
  • Experience with numerical modeling, reduced-order modeling, simulation tool development, or scientific software development.
  • Working knowledge of Linux environments, Git-based workflows, and engineering software development practices.
  • Ability to collaborate with CFD, controls, mechanical, software, metocean, and test teams to resolve modeling and simulation issues.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong first-principles engineering judgment and the ability to understand model assumptions, limitations, and appropriate use cases.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's or PhD in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar field.
  • Experience with frequency-domain and/or time-domain BEM methods.
  • Experience with OrcaFlex, WAMIT, Capytaine, Nemoh, AQWA, or similar hydrodynamic modeling tools.
  • Experience linking external functions, plugins, or custom models into larger simulation environments.
  • Experience with Julia, especially for scientific computing or simulation.
  • Experience with device-state simulation, time-domain simulation, controls simulation, or optimization workflows.
  • Experience interpreting, validating, or collaborating around CFD simulation results.
  • Experience with metocean reanalysis datasets, measured ocean data, wave spectra, environmental contours, or fleet deployment simulations.
  • Experience validating reduced-order models against CFD, wave basin data, tow tank data, sea-trial data, or field measurements.
  • Experience with data visualization, dashboarding, automated reports, or performance-monitoring tools.
  • Experience with software engineering practices for scientific code, including testing, documentation, version control, packaging, and code review.
  • Experience with marine energy systems, offshore structures, floating bodies, propulsion, mooring systems, or autonomous marine systems.
  • Experience in startup environments or fast-paced R&D teams; comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in shaping work, and adaptable to change.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.
Additional Requirements
  • Occasional extended hours or weekend work to support key milestones, sea trials, fleet operations, or urgent design decisions.
  • Strong preference for candidates based in Portland, Oregon. Exceptional remote candidates will be considered, with regular travel to Portland expected.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.
Compensation and Benefits
If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:
  • Cash compensation of $115,000-$175,000.
  • Equity in the company. We're all owners and if we're successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
  • A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
    • Flexible paid time off
    • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
    • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
    • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
    • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)
    • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
  • Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).
Location
Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.