Senior Thermal Engineer - Gas Compressor & CFD Expert

Caterpillar Brazil; Northern, San Diego (KY, CA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in San Diego, CA is seeking a Principal Thermal Engineer to advance thermal modeling and co-simulation for gas compressor systems. You will integrate data, perform CFD validations, and develop guidelines for material choices under extreme conditions, contributing to expanded operating envelopes.

The role requires a Master’s degree and substantial experience in thermal analysis, with proficiency in Ansys and Matlab. On-site work five days a week; competitive benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Six years of direct work experience on thermal modeling and analysis.
• Hands on experience with flow and heat transfer co-simulation and conjugate heat transfer simulation.
• Proficiency with Ansys Mechanical, Flownex, Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX and Matlab.
• Knowledge of various steels and alloys and their high-temperature behavior.

Responsibilities

• Integrate seal-supplier data and test data to build co-simulation models.
• Perform analytical calculations and CFD validations to support designs.
• Conjugate Heat Transfer simulations of rapid decompression events to characterize temperatures.
• Establish temperature limits, flow requirements and guidelines for new seal tech.
• Collaborate with Rotordynamics, Aerodynamics and CLTF testing teams on test plans.

Skills

Thermal modeling

Conjugate heat transfer

CFD simulations

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Education

Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering

Tools

Ansys Mechanical

Ansys Fluent

Ansys CFX

Flownex

Matlab

Job description

Caterpillar Inc. in San Diego, CA is seeking a Principal Thermal Engineer to advance thermal modeling and co-simulation for gas compressor systems. You will integrate data, perform CFD validations, and develop guidelines for material choices under extreme conditions, contributing to expanded operating envelopes.

The role requires a Master’s degree and substantial experience in thermal analysis, with proficiency in Ansys and Matlab. On-site work five days a week; competitive benefits offered.