Senior Multiphysics Engineer, High Speed Reacting Flow

Job Overview

We are looking for a Multiphysics Engineer to join our team in Costa Mesa, CA. In this role you will own the internal flow, combustion, and heat transfer analysis behind air vehicle propulsion systems.

Responsibilities

• Run CFD analysis of internal and high-speed flows, with and without combustion
• Start with hand calculations and 1D models to size a design, then move to 3D CFD to refine it
• Predict heat loads, surface temperatures, and pressures for the thermal and structural teams
• Set up gas properties and chemistry appropriate to the conditions being modeled
• Support rocket nozzle, insulation, and case design decisions with analysis
• Build and document repeatable workflows so other engineers can run the same analysis
• Compare predictions against static fire and ground test data and improve the models
• Support material response and erosion analysis in high-temperature environments
• Work with aerodynamics, thermal, structures, materials, and test engineers
• Present results at design reviews and document the analysis

Requirements

• Master's degree in Aerospace engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related field
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. secret security clearance
• 5+ years of experience in CFD, aerothermal, thermal, or combustion analysis
• Foundational understanding of compressible flow including shocks, choked flow, and supersonic nozzles
• Strong first-principles understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics, including conduction, convection, radiation, fluid flow, and transient thermal behavior
• Experience with commercial CFD code such as STAR-CCM+, Fluent, or similar, including meshing and driving a case to convergence
• Proficient in applying hand calculations and 1D models to independently validate CFD results
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar
• Clear technical writing and the ability to present results to customers

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in a related field
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance
• Experience with solid rocket motors, propulsion systems, or energetic materials
• Experience with reacting flow modeling , finite-rate or equilibrium chemistry and species transport
• Experience with chemistry and gas property tools such as NASA CEA, Cantera, or CHEMKIN
• Experience selecting solvers and flux schemes for shock-dominated flows
• Experience with high-temperature or high-enthalpy flow
• Experience with ablative or charring materials and surface heat transfer
• Experience with multiphase or particle-laden flow
• Experience with exhaust plumes, jet interaction, or base flow
• Experience comparing models against instrumented test data
• Scripting and automation experience (Python, STAR-CCM+ Java macros, or Fluent journaling and UDFs)
• Graduate research in aerothermodynamics, combustion, propulsion, or thermal protection materials and systems

Benefits

• Competitive salary: $146,000-$194,000 USD per year
• Comprehensive benefits package