Staff Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineer

Ursa Major; United States; Remote; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k with Company Match

Equity Grants in the Company

Unlimited PTO

Parental/Adoptive Leave

Job summary

Ursa Major in Colorado is seeking a Staff Thermal-Fluids Analyst to support propulsion system design across CFD and 1D modeling. You will assess fluid performance, build models, identify improvements, and work with test teams to anchor results throughout engine lifecycles.

You will apply fluids, thermodynamics, combustion and simulation expertise to predict component performance in combustors, manifolds and turbomachinery, while mentoring peers.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 5+ years fluids analysis (CFD and 1D).
• CFD with commercial codes (ANSYS Fluent/CFX preferred).
• Experience building steady/transient 1D models (ROCETS/GFSSP).
• Knowledge of SINDA/FLUINT, FloCAD, AFT tools, Flownex, Flowmaster, GT-SUITE.
• Fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer fundamentals.
• Programming in Python (MATLAB or similar acceptable).
• Creo/NX CAD experience; safety-critical systems exposure.

Responsibilities

• Use hand calculations and steady CFD to predict fluid behavior in engine systems.
• Build steady-state and transient 1D models of fluid systems.
• Identify design improvements and collaborate with engineering teams.
• Coordinate with test team to anchor analytical models with instrumentation.
• Support anomaly investigations by recreating measurements with 1D models.
• Own fluid models for concept and mature engine designs.
• Improve analytical methods and explore new tools.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to peers.

Skills

CFD

1D modeling

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Python

MATLAB

Creo/NX CAD

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

M.S. or PhD preferred

Tools

ANSYS Fluent/CFX

StarCCM+

ROCETS

GFSSP

SINDA/FLUINT

FloCAD

AFT Arrow/Fathom/Impulse

Flowmaster

GT-SUITE

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 aStaff Thermal-Fluids Analysis Engineeryouwillsupport all ourproduct design programsthrough 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 whowill be responsible for the technical growth of Ursa Major’sfluid analysiscapabilities.Youwill 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 uponUrsa’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 ofStarCCM+ 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.

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

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

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.

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.

No outside recruiters, please.