Hybrid Thermal CAE Engineer - Defense Systems

GM Defense; Warren (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GM Defense seeks a Thermal CAE Engineer to build and run thermal models that support virtual analysis for vehicle systems. You will interact with GM defense teams to drive cooling design, assess air flow, and evaluate propulsion and HVAC performance using CFD and FEA tools.

You'll develop novel analysis methods, post-process results, and present findings to ensure system performance meets requirements across multiple programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering with relevant thermodynamics coursework.
• 5+ years of professional experience in thermal/CFD/FEA environments.
• Experience with lumped-parameter network solvers and CFD methods.
• Proficiency with GT-Suites, MATLAB/Simulink for thermal modeling.
• Experience using CFD tools like ANSA, STAR-CCM+, FLUENT, and NASTRAN/ABAQUS.
• Ability to interpret simulation results for design improvements.

Responsibilities

• Estimate propulsion heat rejection and air flow requirements for cooling systems.
• Size cooling systems and determine capacity for condensers and airflow.
• Perform vehicle-level CFD simulations to guide thermal design.
• Develop simulations for controls, thermal integration, and co-simulation.
• Post-process results and identify performance gaps with recommendations.
• Collaborate with engineering teams and present data clearly to stakeholders.
• Be proactive in creating new analysis methods for defense programs.

Skills

5+ years experience

Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer

Fluid Mechanics

Finite Element Analysis

Lumped-Parameter Models

Propulsion plant modeling

Co-simulation

Controls algorithm development

Open/closed loop modeling

CFD basics

Numerical post-processing

MATLAB/Simulink

STAR-CCM+

GT-Suites

ANSA

FEM/FEA packages (NASTRAN/ABAQUS)

3D CAD data handling

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Coursework in Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, FEA

Masters or PhD in Mechanical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

ANSA

STAR-CCM+

GT-Suites

MATLAB SIMULINK

FLUENT

EXA-POWERFLOW

Mesh generators

NASTRAN

ABAQUS

Job description

GM Defense seeks a Thermal CAE Engineer to build and run thermal models that support virtual analysis for vehicle systems. You will interact with GM defense teams to drive cooling design, assess air flow, and evaluate propulsion and HVAC performance using CFD and FEA tools.

You'll develop novel analysis methods, post-process results, and present findings to ensure system performance meets requirements across multiple programs.