Staff Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineer

Ursa Major; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, and...

Parental and adoptive leave

Medical, dental and vision insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability and life insurance

Retirement 401k match

Equity grants

Job summary

Ursa Major is seeking a Staff Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineer to support propulsion programs. The role covers CFD and 1D modeling of rocket engine fluids, predicting pressure drops, mass flow, startup behavior, and system responses.

You will collaborate with design and test teams to anchor models, advise on improvements, and advance Ursa Major’s analytical capabilities while mentoring peers in a dynamic startup-like environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable field.
• 5+ years of fluids analysis experience (CFD and 1D).
• Experience in CFD using commercial codes (ANSYS Fluent or CFX preferred).
• Experience developing steady and transient 1D models, ideally ROCETS or GFSSP.
• Knowledge of SINDA/FLUINT, FloCAD, AFT tools, Flowmaster, GT-SUITE is welcome.
• Background in fluids, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
• Programming experience (Python ideal).
• Experience with 3D CAD (Creo and NX).
• Experience with complex fluid-mechanical systems and safety-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Use hand calculations and steady CFD to predict fluid behavior throughout the engine system.
• Build steady-state and transient 1D models of fluid systems to predict operating states and startup behavior.
• Identify potential design improvements and collaborate with engineering teams.
• Work with test team to anchor analytical models.
• Support anomaly investigations by building transient 1D fluid models.
• Own fluid models of rocket engines and related systems; support concept and mature designs.
• Improve analytical methods and explore new tools.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance.

Skills

CFD analysis

1D lumped parameter modeling

Python programming

Thermodynamics/Heat transfer

Strong communication

Collaboration

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

M.S. or PhD in mechanical/aerospace engineering

Tools

ANSYS Fluent/CFX

StarCCM+

ROCETS

GFSSP

SINDA/FLUINT

FloCAD

AFT Arrow/Fathom/Impulse

Flowmaster

GT-SUITE

Creo

NX

Job description

The future of aerospace and defense starts here.

Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands.

As a Staff Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineer youwillsupport all our product design programs through a broad variety of fluid analysis techniques. Our ideal candidate is one proficient in both CFD as well assteady-state andtransient 1D (lumped parameter) fluid modeling. You will be exposed to all systems on our engines and the unique challenges each component presents. You willalsobeexpected to leverage existing knowledge to solve difficult problems throughout an engine lifecycle.

You will be expected to assess the risk and performance of the hardware andto provide proactive feedback to our design team regarding how to improve their components based on the results of your work. We are seeking an individual who is excited about solving problems on the edge of technical capabilities by using their deep understanding of fluids, thermodynamics, combustion, and simulation. This individual will be able to apply that understanding to predict the performance of rocket engine components including combustors, manifolds, and turbomachinery.

We are looking for experienced analysts who will be responsible for the technical growth of Ursa Major’s fluid analysis capabilities. You will report to our Propulsion Analysis Team Lead.

• Use hand calculations and steady CFD to predict fluid behavior throughout the engine system and its components (e.g. assess pressure drops and mass flow distributions).
• Build steady-state and transient 1D models of our engines’ fluid systems to predict matters such as engine components’ operating states and engine startup behavior.
• Identify potential design improvements and collaborate with other engineering teams to develop our engines while ensuring they meet our system-level requirements.
• Work closely with our test team to request instrumentation necessary to anchor our analytical models.
• Support anomaly investigations by building transient 1D fluid models to recreate measurements recorded during engine operation.
• Ownership of fluid models of rocket engines and related systems. This will include support of concept and clean-sheet designs, as well as supporting mature system improvements.
• Improve upon Ursa’s analytical methods and seek out new approaches and tools.
• Provide professional development, mentorship, and technical guidance to peers.

Minimum Experience/Requirements

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable field.
• 5+ years of combined fluids analysis experience (CFD and 1D, as detailed below).
• Experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using commercial codes (ANSYS Fluent or CFX preferred, but knowledge of StarCCM+ or similar tools is welcome).
• Experience developing steady and transient 1D models of fluid system analyses ideally using ROCETS or GFSSP. Knowledge of SINDA/FLUINT, FloCAD, AFT Arrow/Fathom/Impulse, Flownex, Flowmaster, GT-SUITE, or comparable lumped parameter analysis tools would also be gladly accepted.
• Demonstrated experience in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
• Programming experience (Python ideal, but MATLAB or other high-level languages acceptable).
• Basic experience with 3D CAD software (Creo and NX are ideal).
• Experience with complex fluid-mechanical systems - our engines are the product of integrated combustors, turbomachinery, and control systems, all of which must be well understood and optimized.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, startup environment.
• Prior experience working on safety-critical systems in production environments.

Ideal Experience/Requirements

• M.S. or PhD degree in mechanical, aerospace engineering, or a comparable field.
• 10+ years of combined fluids analysis experience (CFD and 1D, ideally with heavy focus on the specific applications detailed below).
• Experience using CFD to predict performance in at least one specialty area: pump performance prediction, turbine performance prediction, cavitation/two-phase modeling, combustion modeling, or unsteady calculations.
• Experience using 1D models of fluid systems to predict transient phenomena such as water hammer or engine start-up.
• Analysis of cryogenic fluid systems, high-pressure pneumatics, two-phase or supercritical fluid systems, and compressible flows.
• Professional experience in rocketry or turbomachinery.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $155,000 - $190,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can't quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.

Classification: Full-time Exempt

Benefits Include: (Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits)

• Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement
• Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA)
• Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D
• Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport
• EAP Program
• Retirement Savings Plan - 401k with Company Match
• Equity Grants in the Company

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.