Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer (GR 31)

PACCAR Technical Center; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 104,100 - 162,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Pension plan

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Medical/dental/vision insurance

FSA/HSA

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Wellness programs

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

PACCAR Technical Center is seeking an experienced Thermal and CFD Engineer for aftertreatment, exhaust, and underbody thermal management. You will drive innovation in heavy-duty truck development, partnering with Kenworth and Peterbilt teams to predict design viability and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

The role demands 7+ years of engineering experience and 5+ years in CFD/thermal analysis, with proficiency in STAR-CCM+, Fluent, and TAITherm.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of CFD & Thermal Analysis experience.
• Experience across automotive/aerospace/electronics cooling or related industries.
• Strong grasp of heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
• Expertise in CFD modeling: meshing, solver setup, boundary conditions, post-processing.

Responsibilities

• Perform 3D thermal and CFD analysis for exhaust and aftertreatment systems.
• Predict heat loss, pressure drop and temperatures under varied load cases.
• Evaluate DEF system thermal behavior including doser, hoses, tank interfaces.
• Develop insulation, heat shields, and routing geometry recommendations.
• Support DFMEA inputs and design trade studies.
• Correlate simulations with test data and build validation knowledge base.
• Develop guidelines for clearance, shielding and thermal protection.
• Collaborate with packaging, reliability, validation, plant support and warranty teams.

Skills

CFD & Thermal Analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

STAR-CCM+

Fluent

TAITherm

Creo

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Requisition Summary

The PACCAR Technical Center is seeking an experienced Thermal and CFD Engineer for aftertreatment, exhaust, and underbody thermal management to drive innovation in heavy-duty truck development. In this role, you'll partner directly with Kenworth and Peterbilt engineering teams to predict design viability, validate concepts through simulation-to-test correlation, and translate complex technical findings into actionable recommendations.

Company Information

PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines and also provides customized financial services, information technology and truck parts related to its principal business.

Whether you want to design the transportation technology of tomorrow, support the staff functions of a dynamic, international leader, or build our excellent products and services — you can develop the career you desire with PACCAR. Get started!

Job Functions / Responsibilities

• Perform 3D thermal and CFD analysis for exhaust and aftertreatment systems
• Predict heat loss, pressure drop, underhood and underbody temperatures, under various load cases
• Evaluate DEF system thermal behavior, including doser, hoses, tank interfaces, and filling-related CFD needs
• Develop design recommendations on:
  • insulation strategy
  • heat shields
  • component clearances
  • exhaust routing geometry
  • bracket/structure thermal protection
  • thermal zone definition
• Support concept-phase architecture studies, DFMEA inputs, and comparative A/B trade studies
• Conduct quick-turn sensitivity studies and simulation reruns to support design reviews
• Correlate simulation with test/validation data and help build a reusable simulation-to-validation knowledge base
• Develop simulation methodologies for underhood and underbody simulations
• Create engineering guidelines and best practices for clearance, shielding, and thermal protection
• Work cross-functionally with packaging, reliability, validation, plant support, and warranty teams

Qualifications

• 7+ years of engineering experience
• 5+ years of CFD & Thermal Analysis experience
• Experience in industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics cooling, HVAC, battery thermal management, or other relevant industries
• Comprehension of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and numerical methods
• Expertise in CFD modeling, including meshing, solver setup, boundary conditions, and post-processing
• Skilled in CFD/thermal tools such as STAR-CCM+, Fluent, TAITherm
• Experience with CAD tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and technical reporting skills
• Effective communication and teamwork skills for working with design, testing, and manufacturing teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, MS or PhD preferred.

Paccar Benefits

• Competitive salary and 401k with up to a 5% company match
• Fully funded pension plan that provides monthly benefits after retirement
• Comprehensive paid time off – Minimum of 10 paid vacation days, 12 paid holidays, and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA)
• Paid short-and long-term disability program
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• EAP services including wellness plans, estate planning, financial counseling and more
• Global Fortune 500 company with a wide array of growth and development opportunities
• Work alongside experienced goal-oriented colleagues recognized as experts in their field

Additional Job Board Information

PACCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veteran/Disability. At PACCAR, we value talent and promote growth and development. We carefully consider numerous compensation factors, including your education, training, or experience. The salary range for Senior/Lead CFD Simulation Engineer is $104,100- $162,900 annually. Additionally, this role is eligible for a full range of benefit options listed above. This is also eligible for a holiday gift.