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Cfd Simulation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Thermo-Mech CFD Simulation Intern

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$22 - $29.50/hr

Job Summary We are seeking a talented Thermo-Mechanical, CFD Simulation Engineering Intern focused on Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) package development to join our Advanced IC Packaging Team in ...

Thermo-Mech CFD Simulation Intern

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$22 - $29.50/hr

Job Summary We are seeking a talented Thermo-Mechanical, CFD Simulation Engineering Intern focused on Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) package development to join our Advanced IC Packaging Team in ...

Simulation Engineer

San Carlos, CA ยท On-site

$119K - $253K/yr

As a Simulation Engineer at 1X Technologies, you will lead thermal and multi-body structural ... Proficiency in FEA/CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL) and MBD tools (e.g., MSC Adams)

Engineer V

Poway, CA ยท On-site

$105K - $189K/yr

Experience running CFD simulations on high-performance computing (HPC) clusters * Strong ... Strong programming proficiency in Python and MATLAB for scientific computing and workflow ...

Staff Aerothermal CFD Engineer

Vista, CA ยท On-site

$161K - $221K/yr

Successful candidates will have a background in DSMC simulation or familiarity with multi-physics ... Engineering, or an equivalent field. * Experience modifying CFD solvers or coupling them for multi ...

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Cfd Simulation Engineer information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$91.8K

$130.3K

How much do cfd simulation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for cfd simulation engineer 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 are some common challenges faced by CFD Simulation Engineers during project workflows?

CFD Simulation Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing complex geometries and ensuring mesh quality, which are crucial for accurate results. Balancing simulation accuracy with computational resources and run times can also be demanding, especially when deadlines are tight. Collaboration with design, testing, and manufacturing teams is essential to validate simulation results and integrate feedback, requiring strong communication and problem-solving skills. Staying updated with the latest software and modeling techniques is also important to optimize project outcomes.

What are CFD Simulation Engineers?

CFD Simulation Engineers are specialists who use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to analyze and predict fluid flow, heat transfer, and related phenomena in various engineering systems. They create digital models to simulate how gases and liquids move and interact with surfaces, helping to optimize designs in industries like automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. Their work supports product development, troubleshooting, and performance improvement by providing insights that would be difficult or costly to obtain through physical testing alone.

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

To thrive as a CFD Simulation Engineer, you need a solid background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and numerical methods, usually supported by an engineering degree. Proficiency in CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or STAR-CCM+, along with experience in programming languages like Python or MATLAB, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and effective communication skills help you interpret results and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are vital for accurately modeling complex flows, optimizing designs, and delivering reliable engineering solutions.

What is the difference between Cfd Simulation Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectCfd Simulation EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering; proficiency in CFD softwareBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering; CAD software skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, engineering firms, aerospace, automotive industriesProduct development, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace industries
Employer & Industry UsageDesigning fluid flow systems, optimizing aerodynamics, thermal analysisCreating mechanical components, assemblies, and product prototypes

The main difference is that a Cfd Simulation Engineer specializes in computational fluid dynamics to analyze fluid flow and heat transfer, while a Mechanical Design Engineer focuses on designing mechanical components and systems. Both roles require strong engineering fundamentals, but their focus areas and software tools differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Cfd Simulation Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Cfd Simulation Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $91,796 per year, or $44.1 per hour.

Thermo-Mech CFD Simulation Intern

Etched

San Jose, CA โ€ข On-site

$22 - $29.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

About Etched

Etched is building the worldโ€™s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Job Summary

We are seeking a talented Thermo-Mechanical, CFD Simulation Engineering Intern focused on Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) package development to join our Advanced IC Packaging Team in Fall '26, Spring '27, or Summer '27. You'll use tools like ANSYS Mechanical APDL and ANSYS FLUENT to perform critical thermo-mechanical/CFD analysis and contribute to next-generation high-performance computing systems.

Key responsibilities

  • Develop FEA models for CoWoS-based IC packages using ANSYS Mechanical APDL

  • Perform thermo-mechanical stress/strain analysis and thermal cycling simulations

  • Analyze package warpage, solder joint reliability, and interconnect stress

  • Develop CFD models using ANSYS FLUENT for solder reflow modeling

  • Collaborate with design engineering teams on package development

You may be a good fit if you have

  • Education & Experience

    • Pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

    • Academic or project experience with FEA/CFD tools and analysis

  • Technical Skills

    • Proficiency in SOLIDWORKS/NX, ANSYS Mechanical APDL and ANSYS FLUENT

    • Understanding of semiconductor packaging materials and processes

    • Strong grasp on non-linear properties of materials (elastic-plastic, viscoelastic)

    • Familiarity with CoWoS-S/L/R, TSVs, or 2.5D/3D integration concepts

    • Basic programming/scripting skills (APDL, Python, MATLAB)

Strong candidates may have some experience with

  • Knowledge of solder joint reliability and failure analysis

  • Familiarity with JEDEC standards and reliability testing

  • Previous internship in semiconductor industry

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification.

Program details

  • 12-week paid internship

  • Generous housing support for those relocating

  • Daily lunch and dinner in our office

  • Based at our office in San Jose, CA

  • Direct mentorship from industry leaders and world-class engineers

  • Opportunity to work on one of the most important problems of our time

For any questions, contact internships@etched.com.

How weโ€™re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.

We are a fully in-person team in West San Jose, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.