CFD PhD / Thesis

Nautilus Dynamics; Nice; Hybrid; EUR 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Nautilus Dynamics in Nice, France invites applications for a research position focused on numerically modelling offshore hydrodynamics. You will collaborate with engineers to define topics on free-surface flows, wave–structure interaction, or floating systems, review literature, and build reproducible CFD workflows.

You will develop and validate CFD models, study sensitivity to meshing and time steps, and present results with clear documentation to support project studies and the doctoral

Qualifications

• Background in fluid mechanics, naval architecture, applied mathematics, or related field.
• Experience with CFD and OpenFOAM.
• Programming or data-processing skills (Python) and reproducible research.
• Ability to explain assumptions and communicate in technical English.

Responsibilities

• Work with the engineering team to shape a focused research topic around free-surface flows, wave–structure interaction or the hydrodynamics of floating systems.
• Review literature and establish questions, assumptions and comparison cases.
• Develop CFD models, including meshing, boundary conditions, solver settings and a reproducible calculation workflow.
• Study sensitivity to mesh, time step and modelling choices; compare results with references.
• Use computing resources thoughtfully and develop scripts for processing, checking and presenting results.
• Discuss findings with engineers, document limits, and identify where methods support project studies.
• Prepare research reports and academic material appropriate to the thesis framework.

Skills

CFD experience

OpenFOAM

Python

English communication

Collaboration

Reproducible research

Tools

OpenFOAM

Job description

Help develop the numerical methods behind our offshore engineering. We are looking for a curious researcher to join us in Nice and explore fluid behaviour through careful modelling, validation and discussion.

The work you will help shape

• Work with the engineering team to shape a focused research topic around free-surface flows, wave–structure interaction or the hydrodynamics of floating systems.
• Review relevant literature and establish a clear set of questions, assumptions and comparison cases.
• Develop CFD models, including meshing, boundary conditions, solver settings and a reproducible calculation workflow.
• Study sensitivity to mesh, time step and modelling choices; compare results with suitable analytical, numerical or experimental references.
• Use computing resources thoughtfully and develop scripts for processing, checking and presenting simulation results.
• Discuss findings with engineers, document the limits of the work and identify where the methods could support project studies.
• Prepare research reports and academic material appropriate to the agreed thesis or doctoral framework.

What you bring

• A background in fluid mechanics, naval architecture, applied mathematics, computational engineering or a related subject.
• A good grounding in fluid mechanics and numerical methods, with a desire to understand the physics behind a simulation.
• Experience of CFD through studies or research; familiarity with OpenFOAM is particularly relevant.
• Programming or scientific data-processing skills, for example in Python, and an interest in reproducible research.
• The ability to explain an assumption, investigate an unexpected result and communicate clearly in technical English.
• A collaborative and methodical approach. Please tell us about your academic situation and the research framework you are seeking.

What you will find here

• A research opportunity based in our Nice, France office, connected to real offshore engineering questions.
• Dialogue with hydrodynamics, structures and subsea specialists, alongside access to engineering computing resources.
• Scope to help develop methods and tools that colleagues can understand and reuse.
• A topic developed with you and, where applicable, an academic partner to suit the relevant research framework.
• The doctoral or thesis arrangement, academic supervision, funding and start date will be discussed and agreed before an appointment.

A short summary of your research interests, relevant academic work and intended thesis or doctoral framework will help us prepare the conversation.

We welcome different backgrounds and paths into engineering. If you need an adjustment to take part in the recruitment conversation, please tell us.