Lead Aero-Thermal-Fluids Engineer

Rocketdyne•Redmond, WA

12d

About The Position

The Lead Aero-Thermal-Fluids Engineer provides technical leadership in the analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems. The role leads advanced thermal and fluid analysis to help ensure propulsion hardware meets performance, durability, and mission requirements, and serves as a technical authority on aerothermal modeling methods, tools, assumptions, and best practices. The position leads analysis activities across development and production programs, including high-fidelity thermal, CFD, and convective or film-cooling analyses for combustion chambers, nozzles, turbomachinery, ducts, valves, and other thermal-fluid systems. It maintains engine-level thermal environments, margin assessments, and boundary conditions for structural and materials engineering teams, and translates analysis results into design recommendations, risk assessments, and performance improvements. The role plans and executes analysis activities for program milestones and design reviews, supports test campaigns by correlating analytical predictions with hot-fire results, and contributes to design validation, anomaly resolution, and improved analytical methods. It also collaborates with design, materials, test, manufacturing, and program teams; communicates technical findings to internal and external stakeholders; and mentors earlier-career engineers while supporting team capability and engineering rigor.

Requirements

Expert technical leadership in advanced analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems.
Technical authority in aerothermal modeling methods and tools.
Ability to lead aerothermal analyses for combustion chambers, nozzles, turbomachinery, ducts, valves, and other thermal systems across development and production programs.
Ability to develop and execute high-fidelity thermal, CFD, and convective or film-cooling analyses.
Ability to own and maintain engine-level thermal environments, margin assessments, and boundary-condition definitions for structural and materials engineering teams.
Ability to support test campaigns by analyzing thermo-fluid data and correlating analytical predictions with hot-fire results.
Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with design, materials, test, and manufacturing teams.
Ability to prepare and present technical reports, design reviews, and formal documentation to internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to mentor earlier-career team members.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ANSYS Mechanical.
Experience with Fluent.
Experience with CFX.
Experience with Thermal Desktop.
Experience with STAR-CCM+.
Experience with SINDA/FLUINT or equivalent CFD and thermal tools.
Excellent communication and technical writing ability.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership in analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems.
Serve as a technical authority on aerothermal modeling methods, tools, assumptions, and best practices.
Lead aero-thermal-fluids analysis activities across development and production programs.
Partner with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to resolve thermal- and fluid-related design challenges.
Lead aerothermal analyses for combustion chambers, nozzles, turbomachinery, ducts, valves, and other thermal-fluid systems.
Develop and execute high-fidelity thermal, CFD, and convective or film-cooling analyses to predict component environments and inform design decisions.
Define, maintain, and improve engine-level thermal environments, margin assessments, and boundary conditions for structural and materials engineering teams.
Interpret analysis results and provide design recommendations, risk assessments, and performance improvements.
Plan, prioritize, and execute analysis activities for program milestones, design reviews, and hardware maturation.
Support test campaigns by analyzing thermo-fluid data, correlating predictions with hot-fire results, and recommending design or operational changes.
Identify technical risks, uncertainties, and model limitations, and work with program teams on mitigation plans.
Contribute to design validation, anomaly resolution, and continuous improvement of analytical methods and processes.
Collaborate with design, materials, test, manufacturing, and program teams to support thermal robustness and mission reliability.
Prepare and present technical reports, design review content, and formal documentation to internal and external stakeholders, including customers and program leadership.
Communicate assumptions, results, recommendations, and technical tradeoffs to support informed decisions.
Mentor earlier-career engineers through technical guidance, coaching, and knowledge sharing.
Support development of team capability in aerothermal analysis methods, tools, and engineering judgment, and promote analytical rigor and continuous learning.