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Contract Cfd Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GTI Fabrication

CFD Engineer

Buffalo, NY

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation ... Contribute to engineering standards, calculation templates, and best practices for CFD and thermal ...

GTI Fabrication

CFD Engineer

Phoenix, AZ

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation ... GTI is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with deep Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and ...

Altair Engineering

CAE Engineer L2

Raymond, OH · On-site

This is a contract position. What You Will Do: Seeking a highly skilled CFD Simulation Engineer with a strong background in Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) analysis. The ideal candidate will have hands ...

Altair Engineering, Inc.

This is a contract position. What You Will Do: Seeking a highly skilled CFD Simulation Engineer with a strong background in Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) analysis. The ideal candidate will have hands ...

Altair

CAE Engineer L2

Raymond, OH · On-site

This is a contract position. What You Will Do: Seeking a highly skilled CFD Simulation Engineer with a strong background in Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) analysis. The ideal candidate will have hands ...

Allocor Tech

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Crozet, VA · On-site

$96.60K - $127.50K/yr

... contracts and missed delivery timelines. Current senior engineers are oversubscribed across ... Conduct FEA and CFD analysis to validate heat rejection, vibration response, and structural ...

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How much do contract cfd engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract 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 a Contract CFD Engineer job?

A Contract CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Engineer is a professional hired on a temporary or project basis to analyze fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physics using simulation software. They typically work in industries like aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing to optimize designs and improve performance. Contract CFD Engineers use tools like ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or STAR-CCM+ to create and analyze simulations. Their role involves setting up computational models, validating results, and providing insights to improve product efficiency. Since they work on a contract basis, they may manage multiple projects for different clients or companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Contract Cfd Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract CFD Engineer, you need a strong background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis, often backed by a degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering. Proficiency in industry-standard CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, or OpenFOAM, as well as experience with CAD and meshing tools, is highly valued. Strong problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision help you stand out in contract-based roles. These skills and qualities ensure you can deliver accurate, timely simulation results while efficiently managing specific project deliverables for various clients.

What are some typical challenges Contract CFD Engineers face and how can they be managed?

Contract CFD Engineers often face the challenge of efficiently onboarding to new projects and quickly understanding unique client requirements and simulation objectives. They may also need to balance tight deadlines with the need for precise modeling and interpretation of complex fluid phenomena. Clear communication with clients, solid project management skills, and ongoing professional development in new simulation techniques can help you manage these challenges effectively. Staying adaptable and proactive enables contract engineers to deliver high-quality results and build strong client relationships, leading to continued contract opportunities.
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Contract Cfd Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Cfd Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,015 per year, or $44.7 per hour.
CFD Engineer

CFD Engineer

GTI Fabrication

Buffalo, NY

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, and industrial systems.
 
We fabricate custom designed, purpose-built enclosures and skids for our customers and perform mechanical and electrical integration in-house, delivering a true turn-key product to our customers. Our scope spans Engineering, prototype builds, through full production, requiring teams that can move fast, adapt, and execute with precision.
 
GTI Values: Safey I Quality I Customer Obsession I Speed I Agility 

Position Overview
GTI Energy is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with deep Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and thermal systems expertise to lead airflow, cooling, and thermal management design across modular energy and infrastructure products. This role will focus heavily on CFD-driven product development for enclosed systems including BESS platforms, modular data centers, power distribution equipment, and power generation systems.

This is not a traditional HVAC or commercial building engineering role. GTI is specifically seeking engineers who have designed cooling systems for enclosed industrial equipment operating under real-world constraints including space limitations, airflow recirculation, heat rejection challenges, manufacturability, vibration, acoustics, and serviceability.

The ideal candidate has experience modeling and optimizing thermal performance for battery systems, power electronics, generator enclosures, industrial skids, switchgear systems, or modular data center infrastructure where thermal performance directly impacts product reliability and operational uptime.

Key Responsibilities

CFD Modeling & Thermal Analysis

  • Lead CFD analysis and thermal modeling activities for enclosed industrial systems and modular infrastructure products
  • Develop airflow simulations for BESS enclosures, modular data centers, power electronics, electrical rooms, and integrated equipment platforms
  • Analyze airflow distribution, pressure drop, temperature gradients, recirculation zones, hot spots, and thermal rejection performance
  • Validate system performance under worst-case operating and ambient conditions
  • Optimize thermal architectures to improve cooling efficiency, reliability, acoustics, and manufacturability

Cooling System Design & Airflow Management

  • Design and integrate cooling systems based on actual equipment heat loads and operational requirements
  • Develop enclosure airflow strategies including intake/exhaust placement, ducting, baffles, plenums, circulation paths, and pressure balancing
  • Select and integrate off-the-shelf cooling equipment including HVAC units, heat exchangers, fans, chillers, and thermal management systems
  • Design for real-world operating environments including dust, humidity, vibration, solar loading, and extreme ambient conditions
  • Ensure designs meet thermal performance targets without excessive cost, noise, or packaging complexity

Mechanical System Design & Product Development

  • Support mechanical packaging and enclosure design activities related to thermal system integration
  • Coordinate thermal system layouts with structural, electrical, and manufacturing constraints
  • Develop CAD models, engineering drawings, and BOMs supporting thermal and mechanical integration
  • Ensure designs support manufacturability, serviceability, maintenance access, and production scalability

Testing, Validation & Product Performance

  • Support prototype testing, heat runs, thermal validation, and system troubleshooting activities
  • Correlate CFD models with physical testing data and refine simulations accordingly
  • Analyze field performance data to identify opportunities for thermal improvement
  • Participate in Root Cause Analysis for overheating, airflow imbalance, thermal failures, or reliability concerns

Cross-Functional Engineering Collaboration

  • Partner closely with Electrical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, and Operations teams
  • Support customer technical discussions related to cooling performance and thermal design strategy
  • Work with manufacturing teams to ensure thermal solutions align with fabrication and assembly capabilities
  • Support supplier selection and technical evaluation of cooling system components and technologies

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Continuous Improvement

  • Drive DFM initiatives focused on scalable thermal system integration and assembly efficiency
  • Reduce unnecessary complexity while maintaining thermal performance and reliability targets
  • Standardize cooling architectures, airflow strategies, and thermal design methodologies where appropriate
  • Contribute to engineering standards, calculation templates, and best practices for CFD and thermal analysis

Technical Leadership

  • Serve as a subject matter expert for CFD analysis, airflow management, and thermal systems engineering
  • Mentor junior engineers and support development of internal thermal engineering capability
  • Influence system-level product architecture and cooling strategies across multiple programs
Requirements

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline
  • 6–12+ years of experience in thermal systems engineering, CFD analysis, or mechanical product development
  • Strong hands-on experience performing CFD analysis for enclosed industrial systems or thermal-critical products
  • Experience sizing cooling systems based on actual heat loads and thermal performance requirements

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting BESS, modular data centers, power systems, or energy infrastructure products
  • Experience validating CFD models through physical testing and heat-run correlation
  • Background in enclosure design, sheet metal, weldments, or industrial packaging
  • Familiarity with UL requirements, environmental testing, and thermal compliance standards
  • Experience operating in high-growth manufacturing or engineered-to-order environments
  • Master’s degree with concentration in thermal sciences, heat transfer, or fluid dynamics preferred
  • Experience designing cooling systems for battery systems, power electronics, industrial skids, generator enclosures, modular data centers, switchgear, or similar equipment
  • Strong understanding of airflow management within enclosed systems
  • Experience with CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent, Icepak, 6SigmaET, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, or similar platforms
  • Strong understanding of mechanical integration, manufacturability, and enclosure packaging constraints
Benefits & Perks

GTI Energy offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees and their families while providing long-term career growth opportunities within a fast-growing manufacturing organization. Benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match (where applicable)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Sick time in accordance with state and local requirements
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Career advancement opportunities within a rapidly growing organization
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, modular infrastructure, and large-scale industrial projects
• Collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong operational and engineering leadership
• Employee-focused culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement

Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on position, location, and employment classification.

GTI promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. We also value the safety of all employees and work hard to maintain a Drug Free Workplace.
 
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