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Cfd Simulation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Etched

Thermo-Mech CFD Simulation Intern

San Jose, CA · 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 ...

Etched

Thermo-Mech CFD Simulation Intern

San Jose, CA · 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 ...

General Atomics

Engineer V

Poway, CA · 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 ...

Inversion

Staff Aerothermal CFD Engineer

Vista, CA · 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 Jul 5, 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 are popular job titles related to Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs in California? For Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for 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:
Cfd Simulation Engineer jobs near you
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 • On-site

$22 - $29.50/hr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

About Etched

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. 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 we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We are the first inference-focused frontier AI system, betting early on transformer and transformer-like architectures and on increasing model sizes. Our addressable market is the entirety of inference, unlike many of our competitors.

We are a fully in-person team in San Jose (Santana Row), 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 and work across disciplines as needed.