ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Graduate Cfd Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Relativity Space

Sr Aerodynamics Engineer

Long Beach, CA

$109K - $150K/yr

Proficiency in Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D or Star-CCM+, including use of HPC clusters Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * 10+ ...

Relativity Space

Aerodynamics Engineer I

Long Beach, CA

Exposure to industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D or Star-CCM+ Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * Familiarity with hardware design using aerodynamic ...

Apply Early

Relativity Space

Aerodynamics Engineer I

Long Beach, CA · On-site

Exposure to industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D or Star-CCM+ Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * Familiarity with hardware design using aerodynamic ...

Relativity Space

Sr Aerodynamics Engineer

Long Beach, CA

$132K - $181K/yr

Proficiency in Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D or Star-CCM+, including use of HPC clusters Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * 10+ ...

Apply Early

Relativity Space

Sr Aerodynamics Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$132K - $181K/yr

Proficiency in Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D or Star-CCM+, including use of HPC clusters Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * 10+ ...

Relativity Space

Aerothermal Engineer II

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

Proficiency in Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D and Star-CCM+, including use of HPC clusters Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * 5+ ...

Relativity Space

Aerothermal Engineer II

Long Beach, CA

$103K - $142K/yr

Proficiency in Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D and Star-CCM+, including use of HPC clusters Nice to Haves, but Not Required: * Graduate degree in engineering or related field * 5+ ...

Apply Early

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGraduate Cfd Engineer Jobs

Graduate Cfd Engineer information

See salary details

$11K

$93K

$132K

How much do graduate cfd engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate 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 are some typical challenges a Graduate CFD Engineer might face during their first year on the job?

As a Graduate CFD Engineer, you may initially find it challenging to balance learning complex simulation software with understanding specific industry applications. Adapting to project timelines, interpreting large datasets, and validating simulation results against experimental or real-world data can also be demanding. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—such as mechanical designers or project managers—requires strong communication skills to ensure simulation findings are effectively integrated into the broader engineering process. However, with mentorship and hands-on project experience, most new graduates quickly become adept at managing these challenges.

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

AspectGraduate Cfd EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering; knowledge of CFD softwareBachelor's in Mechanical or Design Engineering; CAD software proficiency
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, simulation centers, engineering teamsDesign studios, manufacturing facilities, product development teams
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, energy sectors focusing on fluid dynamicsConsumer products, machinery, automotive industries focusing on product design

While both roles require engineering backgrounds, a Graduate Cfd Engineer specializes in fluid flow simulations and computational analysis, whereas a Mechanical Design Engineer focuses on creating and testing mechanical components and assemblies. The choice depends on whether you prefer simulation and analysis or hands-on design work within the mechanical engineering field.

What is a Graduate CFD Engineer?

A Graduate CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Engineer is an entry-level professional who uses computer simulations to analyze and solve problems involving fluid flow, heat transfer, and related physical phenomena. Typically, they have recently completed a degree in engineering or a related field and work under the guidance of senior engineers to develop models, run simulations, and interpret data. Their role is crucial in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing, where fluid dynamics impact product performance and safety. Graduate CFD Engineers often use specialized software like ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM and contribute to research, product design, and optimization projects.

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

To thrive as a Graduate CFD Engineer, you need a solid background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and numerical methods, typically supported by a degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering fields. Familiarity with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or STAR-CCM+, as well as proficiency in programming languages like Python or MATLAB, is highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you interpret simulation results and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure accurate modeling, insightful analysis, and successful project outcomes in complex engineering environments.
More about Graduate Cfd Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Graduate Cfd Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Cfd Engineer jobs are:
Graduate Cfd Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Cfd Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,015 per year, or $44.7 per hour.

CFD Engineer - AI Task Designer Remote (OpenFOAM)

Alignerr

Remote

$80 - $110/hr

Contractor

Posted 11 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design compact, self-contained CFD and aerodynamics tasks to test AI model's engineering reasoning.

  • Write clear, unambiguous problem statements and develop deterministic scoring checkers for each task.

  • Provide verified reference solutions and review tasks to ensure physical accuracy, clarity, and appropriate difficulty.

Job description

CFD Engineer - AI Task Designer
About the Role
What if your expertise in computational fluid dynamics could teach AI to reason about aerodynamics, boundary conditions, and flow physics - without you ever having to write a single line of machine-learning code?
We're looking for CFD engineers and aerodynamicists to design small, well-defined engineering challenges that train and evaluate AI models on real fluid-dynamics reasoning. Each task you create has three parts: a clear problem statement, a deterministic checker that scores the model's answer, and a trusted reference solution that proves the task is solvable. Think of it as writing bite-sized CFD exam problems - grounded in physics, unambiguous, and automatically gradable.
No reinforcement-learning or AI research background is required. What matters is your hands-on simulation experience and your ability to translate domain knowledge into precise, solvable tasks.
  • Organization
    : Alignerr
  • Type
    : Hourly Contract
  • Location
    : Remote
  • Commitment
    : 10-40 hours/week

What You'll Do
  • Design compact, self-contained CFD and aerodynamics tasks that test an AI model's engineering reasoning
  • Write clear, unambiguous problem statements covering topics such as boundary-condition selection, mesh quality assessment, flow-regime identification, and simulation setup
  • Develop deterministic scoring checkers that can automatically evaluate a model's final answer
  • Provide verified reference solutions that confirm each task is solvable and correctly scored
  • Review and iterate on tasks to ensure physical accuracy, clarity, and appropriate difficulty
  • Draw on your experience with OpenFOAM to ground tasks in real-world practice
  • Work independently and asynchronously - fully on your own schedule

Who You Are
  • Hands-on experience with OpenFOAM
  • Solid foundation in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and heat transfer fundamentals
  • Comfortable with mesh generation, turbulence modeling, boundary-condition specification, and post-processing
  • Able to formulate engineering problems that are precise, self-contained, and objectively verifiable
  • Strong written communication skills - you can explain complex physics clearly and concisely
  • Background in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline (BS or higher preferred)
  • Self-motivated and reliable when working independently without supervision

Nice to Have
  • Experience across multiple CFD solvers or multiphysics platforms
  • Familiarity with scripting or automation (Python, Bash, MATLAB) for setting up or post-processing simulations
  • Exposure to design optimization, flow-control strategies, or adjoint methods
  • Graduate-level coursework or research in aerodynamics, propulsion, or computational methods at institutions such as IITs, IISc, or NITs
  • Previous experience writing technical assessments, exam problems, or engineering challenges
  • Interest in how large language models reason about STEM problems

Why Join Us
  • Apply your CFD expertise to cutting-edge AI research alongside leading labs - from a completely new angle
  • Fully remote and flexible - work when and where it suits you
  • Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, task-based work
  • No need to retrain as a data scientist - your engineering judgment is exactly what's needed
  • Contribute directly to teaching AI models real-world physical reasoning
  • Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch

Apply