Principal Hydrodynamicist

Talent Hive; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International relocation support

KiwiSaver

Professional memberships

Conference support

Job summary

HamiltonJet, a global leader in advanced marine propulsion systems, is seeking a senior turbomachinery engineer in Christchurch. You will own turbomachinery design, drive test methods, and mentor a team within an expanding facility and design system.

The role involves occasional international travel and close collaboration with the Product Engineering Manager. With 10+ years in the field and expertise in incompressible, cavitating pump design, you will contribute to full product lifecycle

Qualifications

• 10+ years in industry as a turbomachinery practitioner, currently in a hands-on role with product responsibility
• Deep expertise in incompressible, cavitating pump design. Marine propulsion, hydro, or liquid-fuel rocket turbopump backgrounds are of particular interest
• A strong experimentalist who knows how to design tests and question data
• Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace or marine engineering or similar; PhD preferred
• Breadth and a hands-on attitude, with a preference for owning the whole problem over working in a narrow specialism
• Valued but not essential: marine propulsion, hull integration, scientific programming (including Fortran), and data acquisition experience

Responsibilities

• Further developing and advancing design data and processes, building on a proven in-house design system alongside ANSYS CFD (Fluent and CFX)
• Designing tests and validating performance, driving further development and optimisation of rig, test boat and data acquisition capability
• Working with external test suppliers and critically assessing their methods and results
• Mentoring engineers in turbomachinery design methods
• Occasional international travel

Skills

Turbomachinery design

Hands-on engineering

Data analysis

Test design

Mentoring

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Marine Engineering

PhD preferred

Tools

ANSYS CFD

Fortran

Job description

• Global leader in advanced and innovative marine propulsion systems
• Specialist hands-on technical authority role
• Full product lifecycle ownership

Trusted the world over for their expertise and innovation, HamiltonJet represents the latest in efficient, robust, high performance propulsion technology.

Founded in 1939, they have delivered more than 60,000 waterjets to commercial, defence and recreational operators around the world to date.

HamiltonJet is in the final stages of opening a cutting edge production and engineering facility encompassing design, foundries, production and testing all located on one Christchurch campus.

This specialist engineering role is central to the ongoing success of the business. You will be the hands-on technical authority for turbomachinery and hydrodynamic design, at a time when HamiltonJet is strategically investing in the optimisation of its design and test capability.

The role

Reporting to the Product Engineering Manager, you will join an advanced engineering group of senior engineers and analysts. Your time and expertise will be focused on:

• Further developing and advancing design data and processes, building on a proven in-house design system alongside ANSYS CFD (Fluent and CFX)
• Designing tests and validating performance, driving further development and optimisation of rig, test boat and data acquisition capability
• Working with external test suppliers and critically assessing their methods and results
• Mentoring engineers in turbomachinery design methods
• Occasional international travel

About you

• 10+ years in industry as a turbomachinery practitioner, currently in a hands-on role with product responsibility
• Deep expertise in incompressible, cavitating pump design. Marine propulsion, hydro, or liquid-fuel rocket turbopump backgrounds are of particular interest
• A strong experimentalist who knows how to design tests and question data
• Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace or marine engineering or similar; PhD preferred
• Breadth and a hands-on attitude, with a preference for owning the whole problem over working in a narrow specialism
• Valued but not essential: marine propulsion, hull integration, scientific programming (including Fortran), and data acquisition experience

Because of the company's defence customer base, this role is subject to security and export-control screening.

Why HamiltonJet

• Full lifecycle ownership of products used around the world, from concept to sea trial
• A senior role that will shape the next generation of waterjet design
• Stability and long-term career prospects in a well-established, privately owned company
• A competitive package with comprehensive international relocation support, KiwiSaver, professional memberships and conference support
• The South Island lifestyle: mountains, coast and outdoor living, all within easy reach of Christchurch

All enquiries are handled in strict confidence.