Data Center CFD Analyst, Lead Consultant

WSP Global Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 131,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

WSP USA seeks a Lead CFD Analyst to join our Data Centers Analytics team in a key technical leadership role. You will guide complex CFD studies, set modeling standards, and mentor junior staff across mission critical facilities.

The role offers opportunities to innovate in digital engineering, AI-assisted workflows, and analytics while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on high-profile data center projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience applying CFD in building systems, mission critical facilities, or related fields.
• Expertise in CFD, thermodynamics, heat transfer, building mechanical systems, and airflow/thermal modeling.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex analyses and guide multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for clients and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced CFD analyses for mission critical facilities, incl. indoor/outdoor airflow and cooling optimization.
• Serve as technical authority for CFD methodologies, modeling assumptions, and QA/QC.
• Lead reviews and QA/QC of CFD studies and develop standard workflows and documentation.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, architectural, and project teams throughout delivery.

Skills

CFD

Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer

Building Mechanical Systems

Airflow Modeling

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline

Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

STAR-CCM+

Fluent

OpenFOAM

FDS

RealityDC

Job description

At WSP USA, we design the infrastructure that powers the digital world. Our Center of Excellence support the cloud, artificial intelligence, financial systems, healthcare, communications, and countless technologies that organizations and communities rely on every day.

We are seeking a Lead CFD Analyst to join our growing Data Centers Analytics team. This role offers the opportunity to serve as a technical leader, drive innovation in computational modeling, mentor emerging talent, and shape best practices that influence some of the world's most advanced data center projects.

Locations: New York, NY | Troy, NY | Atlanta, GA | Milwaukee, WI | Tempe, AZ | Herndon, VA

Your Impact

As a Lead CFD Analyst, you will serve as a subject matter expert and technical leader within our Data Centers Analytics practice. You will lead complex CFD studies, guide project teams, advance modeling capabilities, and help establish technical standards that drive project quality and consistency across the organization.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the execution of advanced CFD analyses for mission critical facilities, including indoor airflow, thermal management, cooling optimization, contaminant dispersion, condensation control, and outdoor airflow studies.
• Serve as the technical authority for CFD methodologies, modeling assumptions, simulation quality, and interpretation of results.
• Lead technical reviews and provide QA/QC oversight for CFD studies completed by other analysts.
• Develop and implement CFD standards, best practices, workflows, and documentation to improve consistency and modeling efficiency.

Project Delivery

• Manage multiple CFD studies simultaneously while maintaining high quality and meeting project schedules and client commitments.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, architectural, structural, and project management teams throughout project delivery.
• Provide technical direction during project kickoff meetings and critical design milestones.
• Support project managers in defining CFD scope, schedules, resource requirements, and technical deliverables.

Innovation and Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through automation, scripting, template development, and workflow optimization.
• Lead development of internally developed CFD tools and software enhancements.
• Evaluate emerging CFD technologies, software platforms, and industry research to expand organizational capabilities.
• Champion the integration of digital engineering, AI-assisted workflows, and advanced analytics into CFD processes.

Mentorship and Team Development

• Mentor and train junior CFD analysts through technical guidance, coaching, and project support.
• Assist in developing onboarding materials, technical training programs, and CFD knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning across the analytics team.

Client Engagement and Business Development

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients by communicating complex engineering concepts in a clear and actionable manner.
• Lead client presentations, technical workshops, and CFD results reviews.
• Support proposal development, technical pursuits, and strategic client engagements.
• Help identify opportunities to expand CFD and analytics services across existing and new client relationships.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience applying Computational Fluid Dynamics in building systems, mission critical facilities, thermal management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Thermodynamics
• Heat Transfer
• Building Mechanical Systems
• Airflow and Thermal Modeling
• Proven ability to independently lead complex engineering analyses and deliver high-quality results.
• Experience reviewing technical work and providing guidance to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting technical findings to clients and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more CFD platforms including:
• STAR-CCM+
• Fluent
• OpenFOAM
• FDS
• RealityDC
• Experience developing custom models and User Defined Functions (UDFs).
• Proficiency with programming and automation tools including:
• Python
• C++
• Java
• Experience leading technical teams, mentoring staff, or managing a team of technical experts in a corporate environment.
• Experience supporting mission critical, data center, industrial, or large-scale commercial projects.
• Demonstrated understanding and incorporation of good business practices including KPIs, lessons learned and evolving corporate goals.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $131,000 - $182,000

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.