Research Computational Scientist

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Educational assistance

Flexible work hours

On-site fitness facilities

Health care and retirement plans

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory seeks a Research Computational Scientist to advance CFD mesh generation and discretization for large-scale simulations. You will collaborate with SMEs to refine methods and implement them into automated workflows with emphasis on unstructured discretization and boundary-layer meshing.

The role aims to push adaptive meshing, design/shape optimization, and solution optimization while engaging with a broad community in industry and academia to advance the

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in mathematics, computer science, engineering with relevant experience.
• Background in CFD/mesh generation and scalable algorithms for exascale HPC.

Responsibilities

• Understand/refine CFD applications and discretization techniques with SME input.
• Lead implementation into large-scale automatic computational work-flows focusing on unstructured CFD and conformal mesh generation.
• Engage with industry, national labs, and academia to advance CFD state-of-the-art.

Skills

CFD mesh generation

CFD discretization

Parallel computing

HPC in Linux

Surrogate modeling

Data analytics

C++

Python

GPU programming

Excellent communication

Education

MS in mathematics, computer science, engineering or PhD in related field with relevant experience

Tools

C++

Python

GPU programming

Linux HPC

Job description

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The Multiphysics Modeling and Flows (MMF) Group in the Computational Sciences and Engineering Division is seeking a Research Computational Scientist with expertise in computational mesh generation to generate validated computational results that are used for large-scale, physics-based simulations for variety of applications.

Our Group:

MMF is a computational multiphysics modeling group at the forefront of deploying novel computational engineering techniques for problems that are critical to U.S. national and energy security. We utilize our expertise in numerical discretization techniques, high performance computing, mesh generation, and geometry representation for a wide variety of physics applications. Our intention is to integrate computational modeling with experimental methods and provide innovative solutions for technology growth. We aspire to help generate technical artifacts (patents) as well as scientific artifacts (journal articles).

Almost all of our simulation codes require a mesh to discretize the spatial domain of interest. For some applications, generating this mesh has historically been a labor-intensive process because it is shown to be a leading driver of computational accuracy. As a result, for certain use cases of interest to ORNL, we are in need of an applications engineer capable of generating meshes and accurate solutions to complex problems.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. With a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people, ORNL’s decadal vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

What does our ideal teammate look like and what will you be doing?

In this role, you will be responsible for working with subject matter experts to understand and refine new CFD application and/or CFD discretization techniques and then lead the implementation of these techniques into large-scale, automatic computational work-flows with particular attention paid to computational accuracy. It is expected that there will be an initial focus on unstructured CFD discretization and conformal mesh generation techniques for applications requiring boundary-layer (i.e., large aspect ratio) meshing capabilities. Additional application methods of interest include adaptive meshing for design/shape optimization as well as solution optimization.

In addition to software development/application, you will also engage with the broader community of industry, national labs, and academic partners to understand and advance the state-of-the-art in CFD applications and work-flows.

Basic Qualifications:

• An MS in mathematics, computer science, engineering or a related field or a PhD in mathematics, computer science, engineering with relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following are a list of preferred qualifications, but not required.

• Experience with mesh generation/CFD applications for unstructured meshes and/or finite element methods
• Experience with CFD discretization techniques for unstructured meshes and/or finite elements with an emphasis on highly scalable algorithms for exascale HPC environments
• Experience with parallel computing environments, HPC in a Linux environment
• Experience with surrogate modeling
• Experience with data analytics techniques
• Familiarity with C++ and GPU programming
• Familiarity with Python programming
• Experience with modern software development practices to ensure code quality
• Experience with computational geometry
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with a measure of autonomy and a willingness to participate creatively in a collaborative team environment

Special Requirements:

• Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements: Q Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following:

• Prescription Drug Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Contributory Pension Plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits
• Generous Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Educational Assistance
• Relocation Assistance
• Employee Discounts

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email [e-mail].

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.