Thermal and Fluid Systems Analysis Engineer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 work schedule

Medical and dental

Employer-matched 401(k)

Pension plan

Employee referral program

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) in the San Diego area seeks a Thermal- and Fluid-Systems Analysis Engineer to design and analyze propulsion and thermal management for next‑gen unmanned aircraft.

The role leads CFD analyses of internal combustion engines, develops MATLAB/Simulink models, and supports engine integration and cooling system design while collaborating with airframe and controls teams. A 9/80 schedule and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering with progressive experience.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB for scientific computing and workflow automation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead CFD studies of engines, intake/exhaust, and propulsion-airframe integration.
• Develop and maintain MATLAB/Simulink models for engine performance and thermal systems.
• Analyze air and liquid cooling, and fuel system architectures across design phases.
• Perform thermal and fluid system trade studies to optimize cooling, weight, and integration.
• Contribute to internal toolchains, and participate in design reviews and test readiness reviews.

Skills

Python programming

MATLAB/Simulink

CFD analysis

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Thermal management

Engine fundamentals

System modeling

Security clearance desirability

CFD workflow ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

PhD in related field

Tools

CONVERGE

STAR-CCM+

ANSYS Fluent

GT-SUITE

AMESim

Ricardo WAVE

Job description

Job SummaryGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

Job SummaryGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Thermal- and Fluid-Systems Analysis Engineer in the San Diego (Poway, CA) area. In this role, you will contribute directly to the design, analysis, and development of propulsion and thermal management systems for next-generation unmanned aircraft platforms. Responsibilities include leading CFD analyses of internal combustion engines and aircraft fluid systems, developing performance models in MATLAB/Simulink, supporting engine integration and cooling system design, and conducting thermal and fluid system trade studies. This position offers competitive benefits, including 9/80 work schedule, medical, dental, employer-matched 401(k), pension plan, employee referral program, and more.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead CFD studies of internal combustion engines, intake/exhaust systems, and propulsion-airframe integration using CONVERGE or similar tools
• Develop and maintain MATLAB/Simulink models for engine performance, thermal management systems, and aircraft fluid systems
• Analyze air cooling, liquid cooling, and fuel system architectures to support conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases
• Perform thermal and fluid system trade studies to optimize cooling effectiveness, weight, and integration complexity
• Conduct transient and steady-state simulations to evaluate system performance across the flight envelope
• Define appropriate modeling strategies and fidelity levels for propulsion and thermal systems across program maturity
• Support engine test planning, execution, and correlation of analytical predictions to experimental data
• Collaborate with airframe, structures, and flight controls teams to ensure integrated system performance
• Contribute to internal toolchain development, workflow automation, and advanced modeling capability
• Participate in internal and customer-facing design reviews, test readiness reviews, and technical meetings
• Contribute to a broad swath of novel remotely-piloted aircraft platforms

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: nine or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, seven or more years of experience with a master’s degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python and MATLAB for scientific computing and workflow automation
• Security Clearance is desirable
• Demonstrated ownership of complete CFD workflows, including CAD preparation, mesh generation, solver setup, convergence assessment, and results post-processing
• Strong foundational understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, turbulence modeling, and numerical methods
• Experience with aircraft fluid systems design and analysis, including air cooling, liquid cooling, and fuel systems
• Solid understanding of internal combustion engine fundamentals, including piston engines, thermodynamic cycles, combustion processes, and performance characteristics
• Strong proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for system-level modeling and simulation
• Demonstrated applied experience using CFD tools such as CONVERGE, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, or similar for internal combustion engine analysis
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Security Clearance is required.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with engine-airframe integration and propulsion system installation design
• Experience developing reduced-order models or control-oriented models for real-time simulation
• Familiarity with 1D system modeling tools (e.g., GT-SUITE, AMESim, Ricardo WAVE)
• Experience with experimental engine testing, instrumentation, and data correlation
• Demonstrated validation, verification, and uncertainty quantification (UQ) of propulsion system models
• Experience with optimization methods applied to thermal management or propulsion system design
• Knowledge of aircraft electrical systems and hybrid-electric propulsion architectures
• Experience contributing to production-quality engineering software using modern development practices

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 109,500 - 187,875