Sr CFD Engineer

Trackhouse Entertainment Group; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Trackhouse Entertainment Group is seeking a Senior CFD Engineer to lead aerodynamic simulations for our NASCAR race program. You will direct CFD efforts to optimize downforce and drag while improving overall vehicle balance and efficiency on diverse tracks.

The role requires deep expertise in aerodynamics, turbulence modeling, and HPC-driven workflows, with mentoring responsibilities for junior engineers and close collaboration with engineering teams to translate CFD insights into tangible

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in CFD, preferably in motorsports or high-performance automotive environments.
• Strong expertise in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and turbulence modeling.
• Proficiency with leading CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM).
• Experience with meshing tools and HPC environments.
• Programming/scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for automation and data analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and validation of CFD simulations for stock car aerodynamic performance
• Analyze airflow behavior to optimize downforce, drag, cooling, and vehicle balance across superspeedways, intermediates, and short tracks
• Collaborate closely with OEM, aerodynamicists, design engineers, and vehicle dynamics teams to translate CFD insights into practical design improvements
• Develop and refine meshing strategies, turbulence models, and solver settings for high-fidelity simulations
• Correlate CFD results with wind tunnel, on-track, and telemetry data to improve model accuracy
• Drive continuous improvement of simulation workflows, automation, and post-processing techniques
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building team-wide CFD capability
• Support race weekends with rapid analysis and performance recommendations as needed

Skills

CFD

Aerodynamics

Turbulence Modeling

Python

MATLAB

HPC

Project Management

Mentoring

Education

Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

STAR-CCM+

OpenFOAM

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior CFD Engineer to join our NASCAR race team. This role will be responsible for leading computational fluid dynamics (CFD) efforts to optimize aerodynamic performance, improve vehicle efficiency, and contribute directly to on-track success. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with a passion for motorsports and a results-driven mindset in a fast-paced, competitive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and validation of CFD simulations for stock car aerodynamic performance
• Analyze airflow behavior to optimize downforce, drag, cooling, and vehicle balance across superspeedways, intermediates, and short tracks
• Collaborate closely with OEM, aerodynamicists, design engineers, and vehicle dynamics teams to translate CFD insights into practical design improvements
• Develop and refine meshing strategies, turbulence models, and solver settings for high-fidelity simulations
• Correlate CFD results with wind tunnel, on-track, and telemetry data to improve model accuracy
• Drive continuous improvement of simulation workflows, automation, and post-processing techniques
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building team-wide CFD capability
• Support race weekends with rapid analysis and performance recommendations as needed

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in CFD, preferably in motorsports or high-performance automotive environments
• Strong expertise in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and turbulence modeling
• Proficiency with leading CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM)
• Experience with meshing tools and high-performance computing (HPC) environments
• Solid understanding of vehicle aerodynamics principles (downforce, drag, yaw sensitivity, ride height effects)
• Programming/scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for automation and data analysis
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, or other professional motorsports
• Experience correlating CFD with wind tunnel and track data
• Familiarity with NASCAR vehicle regulations and aerodynamic constraints
• Knowledge of CAD tools and design integration workflows
• Experience with DOE (Design of Experiments) and optimization techniques
• Analytical and detail-oriented with strong problem-solving skills
• Effective communicator in a cross-functional team environment
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure, performance-driven racing environment