Simulation Engineer (CFD/FEA)

Bray International, Inc.; Georgia; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bray benefits

Job summary

Bray International, Inc. in Houston, TX is seeking a Simulation Engineer to perform advanced structural and thermal simulations supporting valve design and development.

You will develop reliable analysis methods, interpret results, and translate findings into practical design recommendations in collaboration with design, testing, manufacturing, and quality teams. The role requires 3+ years of FEA experience, proficiency with ANSYS Mechanical, and strong communication skills to document

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of professional FEA/CFD experience with mechanical components.
• Proficiency with ANSYS Mechanical and scripting for automation.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and document structural and thermal FEA/CFD for valve components and assemblies.
• Evaluate stress, deformation, and design margins using appropriate models.
• Ensure designs meet ASME, API, and related codes and provide design recommendations.
• Produce review-ready reports with assumptions, methods, results, and conclusions.

Skills

FEA/CFD

ANSYS Mechanical

Python/APDL scripting

3D CAD

ASME codes knowledge

Thermal & structural analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

APDL

Python scripting

CAD software

Job description

13333 Westland East Blvd
Houston, TX 77041, USA

Description

Position Summary

The Simulation Engineer performs advanced structural and thermal simulations to support the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of industrial valve products. The role develops reliable analysis methods, interprets simulation results, and translates findings into practical design recommendations. Working with design engineering, product management, manufacturing, quality, testing, and materials teams, this engineer helps ensure valve components and assemblies meet functional, reliability, manufacturability, safety, and applicable code requirements.

Responsibilities Include

• Plan, execute, and document structural and thermal FEA/CFD for valve components and assemblies, including nonlinear contact, material, preload, pressure, mechanical, fluid and thermal effects.
• Evaluate stress, strain, deformation, sealing contact, buckling, fatigue, thermal gradients, pressure gradients, velocity gradients and design margins using appropriate geometry, loads, constraints, mesh, and material models.
• Assess designs against customer and internal criteria and applicable requirements such as ASME Section VIII, ASME V&V10, ASME V&V20, ASME B16.34, API 609, ASME B16.5/B16.47, and the Pressure Equipment Directive.
• Verify and correlate models with hand calculations, published methods, test or strain-gage data, and field evidence; refine models as needed.
• Produce clear, review-ready reports documenting assumptions, methods, convergence, results, limitations, conclusions, and recommended actions.
• Partner with design, test, manufacturing, quality, materials, and product teams to reduce technical risk, optimize cost and weight, resolve failures, and accelerate product development.
• Develop standardized procedures, templates, material libraries, review checklists, automation, and efficient computing workflows, including HPC where beneficial.
• Conduct peer reviews, maintain controlled analysis records, communicate results across global teams, and promote FEA best practices through technical guidance and training.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Aerospace, Applied Mechanics, or a closely related engineering field.
• Three or more years of professional FEA experience with mechanical components or assemblies; relevant advanced-degree research may count toward experience.
• Demonstrated structural-analysis experience with commercial FEA software; ANSYS Mechanical is preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD geometry preparation and working knowledge of mechanics, strength of materials, heat transfer, fatigue, and numerical methods.
• Ability to prepare technically defensible analysis documentation and clearly present conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to work onsite in Houston five days per week and travel as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong practical knowledge of element and mesh selection, contact, nonlinear convergence, load stepping, result interpretation, singularities, and model verification.
• Ability to define realistic valve loads and constraints and use hand calculations and engineering judgment to verify load paths, reactions, order of magnitude, and design margins.
• Understanding of elastic-plastic and temperature-dependent behavior, friction, elastomers and polymers, metal contact, fatigue, stress linearization, and code-based acceptance methods.
• Exposure to advanced methods such as sub modeling, symmetry, modal, buckling, fracture, explicit dynamics, or fluid-structure interaction is beneficial.
• Familiarity with Python, APDL, or equivalent scripting and automation tools is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, organization, collaboration, and technical communication skills in a global engineering environment.
• Technical Excellence: Applies sound mechanics, numerical methods, verification practices, and engineering judgment to produce reliable simulation results.
• Problem Solving: Frames complex valve problems clearly, tests assumptions, identifies root causes, and recommends practical actions.
• Quality and Accountability: Produces accurate, traceable, review-ready models and reports and takes ownership of conclusions.
• Collaboration and Communication: Works effectively across functions and explains simulation results, uncertainties, and design implications clearly.
• Continuous Improvement: Builds reusable methods, automation, and lessons learned that improve simulation speed, consistency, and value.

Working Relationship

Works closely with valve design engineering, R&D and test laboratories, product management, manufacturing engineering, quality, materials engineering, sourcing, and global engineering teams. May interface with software providers, consultants, suppliers, customers, and third-party test laboratories on assigned technical matters.

Level of Supervision

Works under general supervision and independently plans and executes assigned analyses. Complex methods, assumptions, acceptance criteria, and high-impact conclusions are reviewed with the responsible engineering leader or designated technical reviewer. This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities unless separately assigned.

Primary work is performed in a professional office and computer-based engineering environment. The role may periodically require work in engineering laboratories, manufacturing areas, or test facilities where personal protective equipment and site safety requirements apply. Extended computer use is expected.

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Experience

Required

3 years:

3 years:

Professional FEA/CFD experience with mechanical components or assemblies; relevant advanced-degree research may count toward experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.