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Cfd Modeling Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mainspring Energy

Staff CFD Modeling Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site +1

$160K - $190K/yr

We have a high impact opportunity for a CFD Modeling Engineer to support the design, test, and manufacture of reliable and efficient linear generators at Mainspring Energy. On the system modeling and ...

Ring Inc

Staff CFD Modeling Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$160 - $190/hr

We have a high impact opportunity for a CFD Modeling Engineer to support the design, test, and manufacture of reliable and efficient linear generators at Mainspring Energy. On the system modeling and ...

Socket.dev

Staff CFD Modeling Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$150 - $230/hr

We have a high impact opportunity for a CFD Modeling Engineer to support the design, test, and manufacture of reliable and efficient linear generators at Mainspring Energy. On the system modeling and ...

Purple Hires Inc

CFD Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Develop CFD models for compressors, turbines, pumps, heat exchangers, ducts, and Conduct mesh generation, model setup, solution monitoring, and post-processing. Perform CFD simulations for internal ...

Sapsol Technologies Inc

CFD Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

• Develop CFD models for compressors, turbines, pumps, heat exchangers, ducts, and Conduct mesh generation, model setup, solution monitoring, and post-processing. • Perform CFD simulations for ...

Sapsol Technologies Inc

CFD Engineer

Irvine, CA

Develop CFD models for compressors, turbines, pumps, heat exchangers, ducts, and Conduct mesh generation, model setup, solution monitoring, and post-processing. Perform CFD simulations for internal ...

Stratolaunch

CFD Engineer

Mojave, CA · On-site +1

Analyze wind tunnel and flight test data as required to validate CFD models * Develop and maintain ... CFD automation tools to support the team * Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate ...

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Cfd Modeling information

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$10.9K

$91.8K

$130.3K

How much do cfd modeling jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for cfd modeling in California is $91,796.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,400.00 and $108,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a CFD modeling?

A CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Modeling job involves using numerical methods and algorithms to analyze fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physical phenomena. Professionals in this role use specialized software to simulate and optimize designs in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing. They work with engineers to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and solve complex fluid dynamics problems. Strong skills in mathematics, physics, and programming are essential for success in this field.

What are the typical projects and team dynamics like for CFD modeling professionals?

CFD Modeling professionals typically work on projects ranging from optimizing industrial equipment and automotive designs to improving HVAC systems and analyzing aerodynamic performance. Teams are often multidisciplinary, including mechanical engineers, design specialists, and project managers, with ongoing collaboration required to ensure that simulation results inform effective design decisions. Daily tasks involve setting up simulations, interpreting data, preparing reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders. These roles offer strong opportunities for career advancement into senior engineering, project leadership, or specialized research positions as expertise develops.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the CFD modeling position, and why are they important?

To succeed in CFD Modeling, you need a strong background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and numerical simulation, often supported by a degree in engineering or applied sciences. Familiarity with specialized CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or COMSOL Multiphysics, along with experience in programming languages like Python or MATLAB, is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills distinguish exceptional candidates. These competencies are crucial for accurately simulating complex physical phenomena, interpreting results, and collaborating on multidisciplinary engineering projects.

How to get a job in CFD modeling?

To get a job in CFD modeling, candidates typically need a strong background in fluid dynamics, engineering, or physics, along with proficiency in CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM. Relevant skills include numerical analysis, programming (e.g., Python, C++), and a relevant degree or certification. Gaining practical experience through internships or projects can improve employability in this specialized field.

Is CFD modeling in demand?

CFD modeling is in high demand across industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing, where it is used for designing and optimizing products. Professionals with skills in computational fluid dynamics, simulation software, and programming are sought after as companies increasingly rely on digital modeling to reduce costs and improve performance.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cfd Modeling jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cfd Modeling jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Cfd Modeling jobs in California?

For Cfd Modeling jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cfd Modeling jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Cfd Modeling jobs in California are:

Cfd Modeling jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cfd Modeling job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,796 per year, or $44.1 per hour.

Staff CFD Modeling Engineer

Mainspring Energy

Menlo Park, CA • On-site, Remote

$160K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

About Mainspring

Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.

The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:

  • Pragmatic Optimism
  • Excellence without Ego
  • Proactive Collaboration
Job Overview

Do you have a favorite upwinding technique for hyperbolic PDEs?   We have a high impact opportunity for a CFD Modeling Engineer to support the design, test, and manufacture of reliable and efficient linear generators at Mainspring Energy.  On the system modeling and simulation team, you will have a central role in refining the way generators are designed through detailed fluid dynamic and thermochemical analysis, either for the direct assessment of proposed designs or to inform lower order models that describe system behavior. 

The ideal candidate can break down complex flow and multidimensional phenomena into fundamental behavior, enabling actionable feedback to improve our product.

Responsibilities

As part of this role, you will:

  • Run commercial CFD software to analyze transient gas flow, chemical kinetics, and heat transfer.  To execute this, you will need to:

    • Manage computational resources on local hardware and on the cloud (AWS / GCP)

    • Work with mechanical engineers to generate appropriate 3D models from CAD (Solidworks) suitable for mesh generation.  Extract fluid volumes suitable for computational analysis.  Generate, refine, and debug the mesh to achieve a stable and accurate simulation

    • Select appropriate boundary conditions and domain models to describe the phenomena to be examined

    • Shepard the solver through the computational process, managing and debugging crashes or other roadblocks on the path to a converged solution

    • Analyze and distill the detailed 3D domain results to communicate with the simulation stakeholders.  Generate images and videos that highlight key phenomena

    • Understand and explain CFD principles to the team, knowing and communicating why different models or solver settings are applied within a given CFD package

  • Generate test plans to validate observations gleaned from CFD simulations, or to get required boundary conditions needed to appropriately define a model.  Oversee the execution of those plans on the generator with support from the test team

  • Analyze test data to compare to the results of CFD and system simulations

  • Generate lower order models for use in system-level simulations.  Run system-level models to quantify the impact of design choices on generator performance

  • Write code in C++ and python to automate CFD execution processes, improve system-level models, and couple lower order models to CFD boundary conditions while following software best practices and producing reliable, repeatable, and shareable code

  • Participate in peer review of software written in support of modeling work throughout the team

  • Generate written documentation of simulation results (presentations, reports, etc) for a variety of audiences at Mainspring

Your success in this role will be instrumental to unlocking power and efficiency improvements in Mainspring's linear generators while maintaining near-zero emissions.  At the root of our core mission, you will be collaborating across technical domains, frequently integrating with executives and other leaders of software, mechanical design, and product development.

Qualifications

  • Graduate-level engineering degree (Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, etc) with 10+ years experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics and its applied mathematical foundations

  • 2+ years experience with at least one commercial CFD package (Fluent, Star-CCM, Converge, etc) and one commercial CAD package (Solidworks, Catia, etc)

  • Experience generating and validating custom models of varying fidelity (0D through 3D) in at least one programming language, e.g. C/C++, Python, Julia, etc

$160,000 - $190,000 a year

This position is a hybrid position (onsite + remote) at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don't meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we'd still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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