Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer (GR 31)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and 401k match

Full medical, dental, and vision plans

Pension plan with monthly benefits

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

PACCAR is seeking a Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer to advance thermal management for exhaust and underbody systems. You will drive design viability through simulation-to-test correlation and translate results into actionable recommendations.

You'll partner with Kenworth and Peterbilt engineering teams, develop methodologies, and create engineering guidelines while supporting concept studies and DFMEA inputs. Strong communication and teamwork are essential in this role.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of engineering experience in thermal/CFD environments.
• 5+ years of CFD & Thermal Analysis experience.
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, electronics cooling, HVAC, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and numerical methods.
• Expertise in CFD modeling: meshing, solver setup, boundary conditions, post-processing.
• Proficiency with STAR-CCM+, Fluent, TAITherm; CAD tools listed above.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical and reporting skills; good communication.

Responsibilities

• Perform 3D thermal and CFD analysis for exhaust and aftertreatment systems.
• Predict heat loss, pressure drop, underhood temperatures across load cases.
• Evaluate DEF system thermal behavior and related CFD needs.
• Develop and apply simulation methodologies for underhood/underbody analyses.
• Correlate simulations with test data and build reusable knowledge base.
• Support concept studies, DFMEA inputs, and trade studies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with packaging, reliability, validation, and manufacturing teams.

Skills

CFD modeling

STAR-CCM+

Fluent CFD

TAITherm

Creo

SolidWorks

CATIA

Heat transfer

Thermodynamics

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

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Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer (GR 31)

Date: Jul 23, 2026

Company: PACCAR

Requisition Summary

The PACCAR Technical Center is seeking an experienced Thermal and CFD Engineer for aftertreatment, exhaust, and underbody thermal managementto 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

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
• heat shields
• bracket/structure thermal protection
• 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.

As a U.S. PACCAR employee, you have a full range of benefit options including:

• 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.

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