Senior Propulsion Engineer: CFD & AI-Driven Propeller

Michigan Wheel Corporation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan Wheel Corporation in Grand Rapids, MI, is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to lead propeller and stern gear design from hydrodynamic concept through production-ready geometry. You will mature CFD workflows and help establish AI-augmented simulation as a core capability.

You will correlate CFD with model tests and sea-trial data, collaborate with manufacturing to ensure producibility, and contribute to ongoing R&D across the propeller product line.

Qualifications

• MS in Naval Architecture / Marine Engineering; mechanical/aerospace degrees considered based on experience.
• 5+ years designing propellers, propulsors, pumps, or turbomachinery.
• Strong foundation in fluid dynamics and hydrodynamics; numerical methods.

Responsibilities

• Design marine propellers and stern gear from hydrodynamic concept through production-ready geometry.
• Develop and mature CFD workflows to analyze performance, cavitation, efficiency, and wake behavior.
• Correlate CFD predictions with model-test and sea-trial data to validate and refine designs.
• Partner closely with manufacturing to ensure designs are producible within foundry and machining capabilities.
• Help build, mentor, and establish the methods and tooling of the advanced analysis team.
• Contribute to research, development, and continuous improvement across the propeller product line.

Skills

CFD experience

ML for CFD (data-driven)

CAD tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MS in Naval Architecture / Marine Engineering

Tools

STAR-CCM+

ANSYS Fluent/CFX

OpenFOAM

CAD software

Job description

Michigan Wheel Corporation in Grand Rapids, MI, is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to lead propeller and stern gear design from hydrodynamic concept through production-ready geometry. You will mature CFD workflows and help establish AI-augmented simulation as a core capability.

You will correlate CFD with model tests and sea-trial data, collaborate with manufacturing to ensure producibility, and contribute to ongoing R&D across the propeller product line.