The Thermal/CFD Analysis Manager – Heat Transfer in Turbine Stages will lead a team of analysts specializing in thermal management and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) focused on turbine stages. This role is critical to optimizing heat transfer, cooling strategies, and thermal stress management in turbine components to enhance performance, reliability, and durability under extreme operating conditions.
Thermal & Heat Transfer Analysis:
Lead detailed heat transfer and thermal stress analyses for turbine stages including blades, vanes, nozzles, and disks.
CFD Simulation & Modeling:
Oversee the development and validation of advanced CFD models to simulate fluid flow, heat transfer, and cooling air systems within turbine components.
Cooling Technology Optimization:
Drive innovation in cooling techniques such as film cooling, transpiration cooling, and advanced cooling channel designs.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration:
Work closely with aerodynamicists, structural engineers, and materials specialists to integrate thermal insights into turbine design.
Team Leadership & Development:
Manage, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of thermal and CFD analysts.
Process Improvement & Automation:
Implement best practices and automation tools to enhance analysis efficiency and accuracy.
Validation & Correlation:
Coordinate with test engineers to validate simulation results against experimental data and operational feedback.
Plan and execute thermal and CFD analysis projects for turbine stage components.
Develop and maintain simulation methodologies and modeling standards.
Review and approve thermal and CFD analysis reports and recommendations.
Identify and address thermal challenges in design iterations.
Collaborate with R&D and manufacturing teams to ensure thermal considerations are incorporated into production.
Monitor emerging CFD and heat transfer technologies and incorporate relevant advancements.
Manage project timelines, resources, and budgets.
Present technical findings and recommendations to senior leadership and customers.
Promote continuous learning and innovation within the analysis team.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (PhD preferred).
8+ years of experience in thermal analysis and CFD, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
Expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics in turbomachinery applications.
Proficiency with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, CFX, Star-CCM+, or equivalent.
Strong knowledge of turbine cooling technologies and thermal stress analysis.
Experience with scripting, automation, and high-performance computing environments.
Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
Experience in experimental heat transfer and flow testing.
Knowledge of materials behavior under thermal loading.
Familiarity with multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) tools.
Publication record or patents in thermal or CFD-related areas.