Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer - Thermal & Fluids Analysis

Boston Dynamics, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 154,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Dynamics is seeking a Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer to define the global thermal management strategy and integrate CFD with hardware roadmaps across our next-generation robots.

You will lead advanced thermal-fluid analysis, drive standardized workflows, and mentor teams while partnering with mechanical, electrical, and control software groups to ensure reliability in extreme environments.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Mechanical/Aerospace/Thermal Science with focus on fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
• 10+ years of professional experience leading simulation departments or large-scale virtual validation programs.
• Proven track record of bringing products from concept to mass production while solving high-density thermal challenges.

Responsibilities

• Define the long-term thermal and fluid dynamics simulation vision across the organization.
• Lead the design of thermal experiments and instrumentation to validate models against empirical data.
• Integrate thermal-fluid analysis with Static/Dynamic FEA to assess structural integrity and precision.
• Mentor engineers and participate in technical reviews for thermal/fluid analyses.

Skills

Python

C++

MATLAB

Thermal-fluid analysis

CFD best practices

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal/Fluid)

MS in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal/Fluid)

Tools

Ansys Fluent/Mechanical

STAR-CCM+

Simcenter Flotherm

UDF development

Job description

Boston Dynamics is looking for a Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer to join our Virtual Product Development team. As a Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer focusing on Thermal & Fluids Analysis. You will be responsible for defining the global thermal management strategy and multi-physics simulation roadmap for Boston Dynamics' next-generation robotic platforms. This role transcends traditional analysis by establishing the foundational methodologies, standardized workflows, and high-fidelity correlation frameworks required for complex robotic actuators. As a top-level subject matter expert, you will bridge the gap between advanced thermal-fluid science and scalable hardware production, ensuring that our robots can operate reliably in the world's most challenging environments. Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest robotics challenges. For years, our awe-inspiring viral videos on YouTube have shown the world what remarkably capable robots can do. Now we are quickly becoming a recognized leader in automation solutions for industrial applications and warehouse logistics.

What You’ll Do

Define the long-term vision for thermal and fluid dynamics simulation across the organization, aligning virtual product development (VPD) with the hardware engineering roadmap. Create and enforce standardized, practical CFD evaluation processes that transition our capabilities from academic research to high-velocity industrial execution (EVT/DVT/PVT). Lead the design of sophisticated thermal experiments and instrumentation strategies to synchronize simulation models with empirical data, achieving industry-leading predictive accuracy. Drive structural and thermal trade-off decisions for high-torque actuators, influencing mechanical architecture to optimize heat dissipation, weight, and power density. Build and govern a comprehensive, proprietary database of robotics-specific parameters, including advanced air models, radiation emissivity, and contact resistance coefficients. Lead the integration of thermal-fluid analysis with Static/Dynamic FEA, evaluating the holistic impact of thermal gradients on structural integrity and robotic precision. Serve as a key advisor to leadership on technical risks and hardware scalability, influencing design decisions across mechanical, electrical, and control software teams. Lead the technical review board for all thermal/fluid-related analyses and mentor other engineers to elevate the organization's collective simulation expertise.

What You Bring

Strategic Execution: Translate high-level product goals into concrete simulation milestones, delivering robust hardware solutions even under extreme technical ambiguity. Systemic Collaboration: Navigate complex organizational structures to align divergent technical requirements into a unified, high-performance system design. Disruptive Innovation: Identify and implement cutting-edge simulation technologies (e.g., AI-driven optimization, real-time thermal digital twins) to maintain a competitive edge. Organizational Maturity: Proactively identifies gaps in current development processes and implements structural changes to boost engineering efficiency.

Your Core Skills

Unrivaled proficiency in Ansys Fluent/Mechanical, STAR-CCM+, or Simcenter Flotherm, with deep experience in custom UDF (User Defined Function) development. Doctoral-level understanding of conduction, convection, and radiation, specifically in the context of high-power-density electromechanical systems. Proven ability to lead complex lab setups, utilizing high-end data acquisition (DAQ) and sensing technologies to validate virtual twins. Mastery of Python, C++, or MATLAB to build proprietary simulation tools and automate enterprise-level workflows. Deep knowledge of high-performance materials, aerospace-grade coatings, and advanced manufacturing processes for robotic components.

Required Experience

PhD or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Thermal Science with a focus on fluid dynamics and heat transfer. 10+ years of professional experience, with a proven record of establishing simulation departments or leading large-scale virtual validation programs for complex products. Demonstrated success in taking a product from blank-sheet architecture through mass production, specifically managing the thermal challenges of high-density actuators.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas for this position. The salary range for this position will be clearly stated in the job posting as required by Massachusetts law. The base pay range for this position is between $154,000 - $180,000. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience. This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Boston Dynamics will never ask you to divulge your personal financial or account information as part of its recruiting process. #LI-MD1 We are growing rapidly, building a commercial company that delivers cutting edge technology and solutions to our customers from industrial applications to logistics and warehouse solutions.