Fluids / Mechanical Engineer, R&D

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced thermodynamics engineer to define machine architecture and own cycle modeling for advanced thermal systems. You will size heat exchangers, design piping, relief, and isolation systems around the machine, and run trades to optimize temperatures and subcooling.

You will derive operating points from exchanger ratings and validate predictions against test data. You will calibrate models against datasheets or test data, report discrepancies, and sign off on relief-path

Qualifications

• Experience building a thermodynamic cycle model from fluid properties and defending its assumptions.
• Experience sizing real heat exchangers using published correlations.
• Experience calibrating models against machine datasheets or test data.
• Experience writing analysis that informs design decisions.
• Experience sizing relief paths and signing off that systems are protected.
• Experience holding results open when they remain unresolved.
• Bonus: vapor-compression and transcritical cycles.
• Bonus: propulsion and cryogenic fluid systems.
• Bonus: piping and relief design for high‑pressure fluid systems.
• Bonus: real‑gas properties and two‑phase heat‑transfer correlations.
• Bonus: data center thermal architecture and related components.

Responsibilities

• Define the machine architecture and own the cycle model determining working fluid, pressures, temperatures, and flows.
• Design heat exchangers with surface areas reaching millions of square meters.
• Design piping, valves, headers, relief systems, and isolation systems around the machine.
• Run trades involving air-side temperature rise, face velocity, and subcooling.
• Derive operating points from coupled exchanger ratings.
• Take cycle predictions to the test stand and reconcile them against measured COP.
• Identify and clearly report where models differ from measured performance.

Skills

Thermodynamic Cycle Modeling

Heat Exchanger Sizing

Model Calibration

Piping and Relief Design

Data Center Thermal Architecture

Fluid Properties Analysis

Tools

CoolProp

REFPROP

Cavallini

Gnielinski

Wang

Job description

• Define the machine architecture and own the cycle model determining working fluid, pressures, temperatures, and flows
• Design heat exchangers with surface areas reaching millions of square meters
• Design piping, valves, headers, relief systems, and isolation systems around the machine
• Run trades involving air-side temperature rise, face velocity, and subcooling
• Derive operating points from coupled exchanger ratings
• Take cycle predictions to the test stand and reconcile them against measured COP
• Identify and clearly report where models differ from measured performance

Requirements

• Experience building a thermodynamic cycle model from fluid properties and defending its assumptions
• Experience sizing real heat exchangers using published correlations
• Experience calibrating models against machine datasheets or test data
• Experience writing analysis that informs design decisions
• Experience sizing relief paths and signing off that systems are protected
• Experience holding results open when they remain unresolved
• Bonus: vapor-compression and transcritical cycles
• Bonus: propulsion and cryogenic fluid systems
• Bonus: piping and relief design for high‑pressure fluid systems
• Bonus: real‑gas properties and two‑phase heat‑transfer correlations
• Bonus: CoolProp, REFPROP, Cavallini, Gnielinski, Wang
• Bonus: data center thermal architecture, including CDUs, dry coolers, and direct‑to‑chip

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in thermodynamic cycle modeling, heat exchanger design, and system performance analysis. Proficient in sizing and validating high‑pressure fluid systems and relief paths while utilizing advanced correlations and software tools.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Thermodynamic Cycle Modeling
• Heat Exchanger Design
• Model Calibration Against Test Data
• Piping and Relief Design
• Data Center Thermal Architecture

Hard Skills

• Thermodynamic Cycle Modeling
• Heat Exchanger Sizing
• Model Calibration
• Relief Path Sizing
• Fluid Properties Analysis

Soft Skills

• Analytical Reporting
• Problem-Solving

Industry Keywords

• Cryogenic Fluid Systems
• Vapor-Compression Cycles
• High-Pressure Fluid Systems
• Two-Phase Heat-Transfer Correlations
• Data Center Thermal Architecture

Tools & Technologies

• CoolProp
• REFPROP
• Cavallini
• Gnielinski
• Wang