Senior CFD Fire Dynamics Engineer — FDS Expert

Jensen Hughes; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Jensen Hughes is seeking a Principal CFD Modeling Engineer to lead high-fidelity CFD model development using FDS for fire dynamics and heat transfer. You will collaborate with experimental teams, validate results, and guide best practices in CFD modeling and fire science.

You will mentor engineers, present at conferences, and contribute to publications while advancing physics-based modeling initiatives. This role requires a graduate degree and extensive CFD experience.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in engineering with a focus on thermal-fluid sciences.
• 15+ years of professional experience applying CFD tools (including FDS) to fire dynamics, heat transfer, and fluid-flow problems across commercial and applied research projects.
• Directly relevant post-graduate research may count for up to five years of this experience.
• Deep working knowledge of the FDS Validation Guide, Technical Reference Guide, and User Guide.
• Advanced understanding of Radiation transport equations, Gas-phase absorption coefficients, Pyrolysis modeling within the FDS framework.
• Demonstrated experience using experimental fire test data to validate and refine numerical models.
• Knowledge of numerical modeling approaches and their limitations, particularly for large-scale or outdoor fire scenarios.
• Proficiency in Python and Fortran or similar scientific programming languages.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex modeling results to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently while also thriving in a collaborative, multidisciplinary technical environment.
• U.S. Citizen required.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, execution, and refinement of high-fidelity CFD models using FDS for fire dynamics, fluid flow, and heat transfer applications.
• Partner closely with experimental testing teams to design test programs, select instrumentation, and produce high-quality validation datasets.
• Analyze experimental results and integrate findings into model validation and improvement frameworks.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers, helping shape best practices in CFD modeling and fire science.
• Present technical work to clients, industry groups, and at professional conferences.
• Author and review technical reports, proposals, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Support strategic initiatives related to physics-based modeling, test programs, and methodology development.

Skills

CFD modeling

FDS

Python

Fortran

Fire dynamics

Data validation

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Communication

U.S. Citizenship

Education

Graduate degree in engineering (thermal-fluid sciences)

Tools

FDS software

Radiation modeling tools

Job description

Jensen Hughes is seeking a Principal CFD Modeling Engineer to lead high-fidelity CFD model development using FDS for fire dynamics and heat transfer. You will collaborate with experimental teams, validate results, and guide best practices in CFD modeling and fire science.

You will mentor engineers, present at conferences, and contribute to publications while advancing physics-based modeling initiatives. This role requires a graduate degree and extensive CFD experience.