Senior Forward Deployed Engineer — FEA

luminarycloud; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Luminary AI in the San Mateo area is seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to join the Applications Engineering team. You will serve as the physics-domain expert, turning complex customer problems into deployed Physics AI solutions—from data generation through model development to production workflows—embedded alongside customer engineers.

The role combines CFD expertise, Python scripting, and ML surrogate modeling with pre-sales delivery, travel to client sites, and close collaboration

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field; MS acceptable with 5+ years experience.
• Hands-on CFD depth in at least one discipline (aerodynamics, turbomachinery, etc.).
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch) and API workflows.
• Experience in customer-facing delivery and running technical evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of Physics AI engagements as the resident physics expert on the value delivery team.
• Translate customer engineering problems into simulation campaigns, training datasets, and surrogate model architectures.
• Run the simulations that generate high-quality training data, validating physical fidelity with customer SMEs.
• Partner with Applied AI/ML Scientists on model selection, training, and validation against ground-truth simulations.
• Work with Data & Platform engineers to integrate models into production workflows.
• Build trust with customer engineers through technical credibility and shipped outcomes.
• Travel to customer sites to support deployment, training, and engagement reviews.

Skills

Python

CFD experience

Surrogate modeling

Pre-sales

Technical communication

Education

PhD in Mechanical/Aerospace

MS + 5+ years experience

Tools

Ansys Fluent

STAR-CCM+

PowerFLOW

PyTorch

APIs/SDK workflows

Job description

Full Time | Eligible for Hybrid, Remote

JOIN THE REVOLUTION IN ENGINEERING INNOVATION

Engineering simulation has never been faster or more capable — and yet the hardest design challenges still outpace what traditional solvers can deliver at speed. Physics AI doesn't replace that foundation. It extends it, giving engineering teams a new capability layer that opens up problems previously constrained by compute time, iteration cost, or workflow bottlenecks. Luminary AI is building that capability layer, and our platform is deployed at several of the most recognized names in aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. We're Series B and growing fast.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer on Luminary's Applications Engineering team, you're the physics-domain expert inside a customer value delivery team. You work in a matrix under a Lead Delivery Engineer, alongside Applied AI/ML Scientists, Data & Platform engineers, and product engineers. You take the hardest simulation problems a customer brings and turn them into deployed Physics AI solutions — from data generation, through model development, into production workflows — embedded alongside customer engineers.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead the technical delivery of Physics AI engagements as the resident physics expert on the value delivery team.
• Translate customer engineering problems into simulation campaigns, training datasets, and surrogate model architectures.
• Run the simulations that generate high-quality training data, validating physical fidelity with customer SMEs.
• Partner with Applied AI/ML Scientists on model selection, training, and validation against ground-truth simulations.
• Work with Data & Platform engineers to integrate models into production workflows.
• Build trust with customer engineers through technical credibility and shipped outcomes.
• Travel to customer sites to support deployment, training, and engagement reviews.
• Bring customer signals back to Product and Research to shape the Physics AI roadmap.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Industrial CFD experience, with hands-on depth in a core discipline.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting and automation, plus familiarity with a deep learning framework (e.g., PyTorch) and API/SDK workflows.
• Hands-on experience applying Physics AI or ML-based surrogate models to engineering simulation, including surrogate modeling, neural operators, or data-driven solvers.
• Pre-sales or customer-facing delivery experience, including running technical evaluations, building POCs, and scoping engagements.
• Strong communication with technical audiences.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• A PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related discipline (MS considered with 5+ years of relevant industry experience), with hands-on depth in at least one of: aerodynamics, turbomachinery, multiphase flow, conjugate heat transfer, or combustion. Fluency in commercial solvers — Ansys Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, PowerFLOW, or similar — is expected. Working knowledge of Physics AI and ML surrogates is preferred.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. Persons; not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.