Structural/Thermal Analyst – Turbine Blade and Casing Design

The Junior Structural/Thermal Analyst will support the design and performance evaluation of turbine blades and casings through computational structural and thermal analyses. This role involves finite element analysis (FEA), material behavior studies, and thermal stress evaluation to ensure the mechanical integrity and thermal efficiency of high-speed rotating components in steam or gas turbines.

Key Responsibilities:

• • Assist in conducting structural FEA of turbine blades, vanes, and casings under centrifugal, thermal, and vibrational loads.

  • Support thermal analysis and heat transfer modeling for high-temperature turbine environments.

  • Contribute to thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) and creep life assessments of turbine components.

  • Work with senior engineers to simulate operating and transient conditions, including startup/shutdown cycles.

  • Perform meshing, boundary condition setup, and post-processing using tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or COMSOL.

  • Interpret analysis results to identify areas of high stress, distortion, or thermal gradients and propose design improvements.

  • Assist in the development of technical documentation, analysis reports, and design reviews.

  • Collaborate closely with the aerothermal, design, and materials engineering teams to support integrated turbine component design.

  • Follow company and industry engineering standards and QA protocols for analysis validation.

  • Learn and apply material properties, coatings, and cooling strategies relevant to turbine hot-section components.

Key Focus Areas:

• • Blade/Casing Stress and Vibration Analysis – Life-limiting factors, modal behavior, tip clearance prediction

  • Thermal Gradient Management – Effects of uneven heating, cooling passages, thermal barrier coatings

  • FEA and CFD Interface – Working with aerothermal results as boundary inputs to structural models

  • Material Behavior – High-temperature alloys, fatigue, creep, oxidation effects

  • Modeling for Design Support – Supporting iterative design cycles with fast, reliable analysis

Qualifications and Skills:

• • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred for research-intensive roles)

  • 0–3 years of experience in structural or thermal analysis (internships or academic projects acceptable)

  • Basic proficiency in FEA software such as ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or similar

  • Familiarity with thermal analysis principles and material science for high-temperature applications

  • Understanding of rotating machinery components, preferably gas or steam turbines

  • Strong problem-solving and teamwork skills

  • Excellent documentation and technical communication abilities

Preferred Experience (Nice to Have):

• • Exposure to rotor dynamics, modal analysis, or fatigue life estimation

  • Hands-on experience in CAD and pre-/post-processing tools (e.g., ANSYS Workbench, HyperMesh)

  • Experience working with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., aero, materials, and manufacturing)

  • Knowledge of ASME, ISO, or OEM standards for turbomachinery