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Cfd Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Last Energy

Senior CFD Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$99K - $135K/yr

We're hiring a CFD Engineer focused on heat exchangers to drive thermal-fluid analysis from first-pass sizing through detailed geometry decisions. You'll own the CFD workflow end-to-end and turn ...

Inversion

Staff Aerothermal CFD Engineer

Vista, CA · On-site

$161K - $221K/yr

Masters / PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent field. * Experience modifying CFD solvers or coupling them for multi-physics simulations * Experience with high temperature gas ...

Valar Atomics

CFD Analyst

Hawthorne, NV

We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to ... In this role, you will develop high-fidelity CFD models that support reactor design optimization ...

Altus LLC

CFD Propulsion Research Engineer

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$100K - $200K/yr

CFD Propulsion Research Engineer Company: Altus Engineering Location: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Salary: $100,000-$200,000 Position Overview: Altus Engineering is currently seeking a Computational ...

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Cfd Engineer information

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How much do cfd engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for cfd engineer in the United States is $93,015.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,500.00 and $110,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 CFD Engineers?

CFD Engineers are professionals who specialize in Computational Fluid Dynamics, a field that uses numerical analysis and algorithms to solve and analyze problems involving fluid flows. They use specialized software to simulate how liquids and gases behave under various conditions, which helps in designing and optimizing products like aircraft, cars, and HVAC systems. CFD Engineers typically have a background in engineering, physics, or mathematics and work in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing. Their work is essential for improving performance, safety, and efficiency in systems involving fluid movement.

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 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.
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Cfd Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cfd Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 22% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,015 per year, or $44.7 per hour.
Senior CFD Engineer

Senior CFD Engineer

Last Energy

Austin, TX • On-site

$99K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Last Energy is building productized nuclear plants with manufacturing-style repeatability. We're hiring a CFD Engineer focused on heat exchangers to drive thermal-fluid analysis from first-pass sizing through detailed geometry decisions. You'll own the CFD workflow end-to-end and turn simulations into clear trade studies and recommendations that directly inform hardware design (ΔP, effectiveness, flow distribution, hot spots), while continuously improving the speed and consistency of how we model and communicate results.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
  • Build and run CFD models for heat exchanger components and flow paths (headers/manifolds, distributors, tube/fin passages, shell-side features, compact HX geometries, etc.)
  • Drive pressure drop and heat transfer performance predictions and trade studies (ΔP vs UA/effectiveness, temperature approach, flow distribution, hot spots)
  • Develop a repeatable CFD workflow: geometry - mesh - solve - post-process - standardized report package
  • Execute parametric sweeps and sensitivity analyses to support rapid iteration and design decisions
  • Improve throughput by reducing model failure modes and cycle time through automation, templates, and best practices
  • Translate CFD outputs into actionable design changes in collaboration with mechanical design and systems engineering
  • Create or refine engineering correlations / reduced-order models (Nu, f, HTC) to feed sizing and system tools where appropriate
  • Support vendor and partner alignment by clearly defining assumptions, boundary conditions, acceptance criteria, and evidence packages

Qualifications
  • B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering field (M.S./PhD a plus)
  • Strong fundamentals in heat transfer and fluid mechanics; comfort reasoning from first principles and sanity-checking results
  • 4+ years of hands-on CFD experience in thermal-fluids applications (more experience welcomed; we can level this role)
  • Experience with heat exchangers or closely related mass/heat transfer hardware (compact HX, manifolds, internal flows, finned passages, etc.)
  • Proficiency in at least one major CFD solver: ANSYS Fluent/CFX, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or COMSOL
  • Practical meshing and modeling judgment: boundary layers, y+, turbulence model selection, convergence criteria, grid independence
  • Ability to communicate results clearly to non-CFD stakeholders and defend assumptions under schedule pressure
  • Multi-phase or boiling/condensing modeling experience is a plus
  • Experience with flow distribution challenges and mitigation (distributors, baffles, headers) is a plus
  • Experience with flow-induced vibration considerations or coupling CFD insights to structural risk is a plus
  • Python-based automation of meshing/runs/post-processing; comfort on HPC environments (Slurm/PBS) is a plus
  • Experience producing decision-grade analysis packages in high-reliability industries is a plus

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