Principal Engineer I- Thermal Simulation

Alcon • Lake Forest, CA

8d

About The Position

At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers. We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Senior Thermal Engineer supporting Surgical R&D, you will be trusted to lead thermal analysis and design efforts for ophthalmic surgical consoles and diagnostic systems. In this role, a typical day will include: Lead thermal analysis and design of systems for surgical consoles and diagnostic devices, defining thermal management roadmaps from component to system level. Plan and execute simulation projects using advanced CFD tools (FloEFD, Fluent, Star-CCM+) and apply first-principles physics to accelerate product development and reduce time-to-market. Develop and execute test plans, manage instrumentation setup, and analyze data to validate models against experimental outcomes. Provide technical insight for system architecture decisions, risk assessments, and early design guidance to minimize thermal and mechanical issues. Mentor cross-functional teams on thermal and fluid principles, collaborating to align with product goals and ensure on-time project completion. Conduct advanced research on thermal behavior, material properties, and heat transfer paths; apply constitutive thermal models for board-level and system-level analysis leveraging ECAD. Deliver executive briefings, design reviews, and comprehensive reports to stakeholders. Innovate by developing new capabilities and incorporating AI/ML techniques (e.g., regression models, neural networks, reinforcement learning) for simulation acceleration and enhanced thermal management strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +13 yrs; Assoc.+9 yrs; M.S.+2 yrs; PhD+0 yrs)
• The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
• 5 Years of Relevant Experience

Nice To Haves

• MS in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Biomedical Engineering with coursework in Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
• Industry experience in the application of thermal simulation and analysis for product development.
• Expertise in first-principles reasoning and advanced simulation tools (Icepak, FloEFD, Ansys Fluent, Star-CCM+).
• Deep expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermal management design principles.
• Proven ability to apply first-principles reasoning to solve complex engineering challenges.
• Advanced proficiency with thermal simulation and CFD tools, including Icepak, FloEFD, Ansys Workbench, Design Modeler, SpaceClaim, Star-CCM+, and Ansys Fluent.
• Skilled in CAD tools (Creo, SolidWorks) for model simplification and integration.
• Hands-on experience with thermal system testing and validation.
• Knowledge of AI/ML techniques for simulation acceleration and optimization.
• Experience with multiphase/multispecies flow analysis and Ansys Mechanical for thermal expansion simulations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for technical reporting and cross-functional collaboration

Responsibilities

• Lead thermal analysis and design of systems for surgical consoles and diagnostic devices, defining thermal management roadmaps from component to system level.
• Plan and execute simulation projects using advanced CFD tools (FloEFD, Fluent, Star-CCM+) and apply first-principles physics to accelerate product development and reduce time-to-market.
• Develop and execute test plans, manage instrumentation setup, and analyze data to validate models against experimental outcomes.
• Provide technical insight for system architecture decisions, risk assessments, and early design guidance to minimize thermal and mechanical issues.
• Mentor cross-functional teams on thermal and fluid principles, collaborating to align with product goals and ensure on-time project completion.
• Conduct advanced research on thermal behavior, material properties, and heat transfer paths; apply constitutive thermal models for board-level and system-level analysis leveraging ECAD.
• Deliver executive briefings, design reviews, and comprehensive reports to stakeholders.
• Innovate by developing new capabilities and incorporating AI/ML techniques (e.g., regression models, neural networks, reinforcement learning) for simulation acceleration and enhanced thermal management strategies.

Benefits

• Work on cutting-edge medical device technology with autonomy and ownership of thermal management strategies.
• Collaborate in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment that values innovation and continuous learning.
• Benefit from relocation assistance and sponsorship opportunities for qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level