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Senior Thermodynamics Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pennant Solutions Group

Sr Aerospace Engineer

Mukilteo, WA · On-site

$175K - $190K/yr

Sr Aerospace Engineer Overview The Sr Aerospace Engineer applies advanced principles of physics--including classical mechanics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism--to support the ...

ITE LLC

Sr. Product Engineer

Loveland, OH · On-site

JOB PURPOSE The Sr. Project Engineer (ME) performs design and analysis work that involves ... and thermodynamics. * Flexibility to work on a variety of projects with various levels of ...

ITE LLC

Sr. Product Engineer

Loveland, OH · On-site

JOB PURPOSE The Sr. Project Engineer (ME) performs design and analysis work that involves ... and thermodynamics. * Flexibility to work on a variety of projects with various levels of ...

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How much do senior thermodynamics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior thermodynamics engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Thermodynamics Engineer, you need a solid background in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, typically supported by a degree in mechanical or chemical engineering and several years of relevant experience. Expertise in simulation software such as ANSYS, MATLAB, or CFD tools, as well as knowledge of industry-specific codes and potentially a Professional Engineer (PE) license, is often required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for designing efficient systems, troubleshooting complex problems, and ensuring successful project outcomes in advanced engineering environments.

What are some common challenges faced by a Senior Thermodynamics Engineer when leading multidisciplinary projects?

Senior Thermodynamics Engineers often work on complex projects that require collaboration with teams across mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering disciplines. One common challenge is aligning diverse technical perspectives and ensuring that thermodynamic principles are integrated effectively into the overall system design. Additionally, balancing project deadlines with the need for rigorous analysis and validation can be demanding. Strong communication and project management skills are essential for overcoming these challenges and ensuring successful project outcomes.

What does a Senior Thermodynamics Engineer do?

A Senior Thermodynamics Engineer analyzes, designs, and improves systems and processes that involve heat and energy transfer. They apply principles of thermodynamics to develop efficient solutions in industries such as aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and energy. Their responsibilities may include conducting simulations, overseeing testing, ensuring compliance with safety and efficiency standards, and mentoring junior engineers. Senior Thermodynamics Engineers often work on complex projects and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging engineering problems.
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Senior Thermodynamics Engineer jobs near you

Sr. Thermodynamics Performance Engineer

Arbor Energy

El Segundo, CA

$165K - $180K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Role Overview

We're looking for a Sr. Thermodynamics Performance Engineer to own the dynamic and steady-state thermodynamic models of our direct-fired supercritical CO Brayton cycle. You'll be the person who turns integrated system behavior into clear, actionable insight - running performance studies ahead of test campaigns, reconciling predictions against test data, and growing our modeling capability into a digital-twin-quality simulation platform that supports controls development, trip response, and eventual hardware-in-the-loop testing. You'll work closely with our test, combustion, turbomachinery, recuperator, fluid systems, and controls engineers. This is the simulation backbone for a first-of-a-kind power system, and the work is foundational to how we operate, validate, and scale the technology.

Responsibilities
  • Own the integrated cycle performance model - steady-state and dynamic - for our direct-fired sCO Brayton power loop, maintaining and advancing it through the hardware lifecycle
  • Run performance prediction and sensitivity studies ahead of test campaigns; reconcile model output against test data to drive model refinement and surface component-level insights
  • Own the architecture call on how our dynamic modeling stack should evolve over time - what platform, what fidelity, on what evidence
  • Build property tables, turbomachinery map handling, heat exchanger transient models, and combustor representations appropriate to the cycle and fidelity required
  • Collaborate with combustion, turbomachinery, and heat exchanger engineers to integrate component data into system-level models; collaborate with controls and software teams on closed-loop simulation and HIL planning
  • Develop simulation infrastructure - scripted scenario runs, parameter sweeps, validation cases - that makes the model usable by engineers beyond yourself
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Nuclear, or related Engineering field
  • 6+ years of experience in cycle performance analysis, thermodynamic systems modeling, or dynamic process simulation
  • Strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, applied to integrated multi-component systems
  • Demonstrated experience building dynamic simulation models of fluid/thermal systems in an industry-grade 1D system simulation platform - and a clear point of view on tool tradeoffs for closed-loop power cycle applications
  • Working knowledge of integrated power loop equipment - heat exchanger sizing, compressor/pump curves, valve Cv, piping hydraulics - and how each shows up in dynamic response
  • Programming proficiency: Python for data reduction and automation; one of MATLAB/Simulink, Modelica, or equivalent for modeling
  • Strong ownership mentality and comfort driving rigorous analysis in a fast-paced startup environment
Preferred Qualifications
  • Deep experience with industry dynamic simulation platforms (such as GT-SUITE, Modelica/Dymola, NPSS, Flownex, Simcenter Amesim, or equivalent) applied to turbomachinery, power cycles, or closed-loop thermal-fluid systems
  • Background in nuclear thermal-hydraulics with fast-dynamic single-phase modeling experience (RELAP, TRACE, MARS, ATHLET, GAMMA, or equivalent), particularly applied to gas-cooled or sCO reactor concepts
  • Working knowledge of real-fluid EOS handling (REFPROP, CoolProp, Span-Wagner) and turbomachinery map interpolation near critical conditions
  • History of making and defending tool/methodology decisions in a constrained engineering environment
  • Experience with supercritical CO, closed Brayton cycles, high-pressure systems (100+ bar), or other high-density working fluids
  • Experience coupling plant models to control systems for HIL testing, controller validation, FMU export, or operator training simulators
  • Hands-on plant startup, commissioning, or field troubleshooting on first-of-a-kind or developmental systems
  • Background in rocketry, gas turbine, advanced reactors, or high-performance turbomachinery environments
Compensation & Benefits
  • Pre-IPO stock options
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance (Arbor covers 90% for employees)
  • Basic life insurance fully covered
  • Health savings account (HSA) with matching
  • Flexible savings account (FSA)
  • Unlimited PTO 
  • 12+ company holidays, including Earth Day! 
  • 401(k)
  • Commuter benefits
  • Annual learning and development stipend
  • And more!

Base Pay: $165,000 - $180,000 USD/year. The salary is subject to the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

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