Senior Computational Engineer

About the job

This role is highly technical and highly cross-functional. You will run and improve CFD workflows using Helyx, OpenFOAM, and/or Star-CCM+, validate optimized results against high-fidelity simulations, compare simulation outputs against experimental and sea-trial data, and communicate simulation confidence, assumptions, sensitivities, and validation status. You will be expected to diagnose difficult CFD issues, improve automation pipelines, post-process and visualize complex results, and help establish the standards by which performance claims are validated.

Responsibilities

• Own the CFD-based performance validation process for optimized marine system designs, including geometry preparation, meshing, solver setup, execution, debugging, post-processing, visualization, and reporting.
• Use Helyx, OpenFOAM, and/or Star-CCM+ to evaluate optimized geometries and operating conditions generated by fast-running time-domain simulation, Boundary Element Method (BEM), and fleet deployment tools.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve CFD validation workflows and automation pipelines with support from other engineers and software developers.
• Improve robustness, accuracy, and reliability of advanced CFD workflows across complex marine operating conditions, including meshing, solver setup, turbulence modeling, boundary conditions, and post-processing workflows.
• Evaluate power, propulsion, hydrodynamic loading, device performance, and other key metrics using high-fidelity simulation data.
• Compare CFD results against reduced-order models, BEM tools, time-domain device simulations, experimental data, sea-trial measurements, and metocean observations.
• Work directly with data collected from prototype deployments and sea-trial campaigns to improve model fidelity and accelerate deployment readiness.
• Refine and extend internal validation standards to ensure CFD results are accurate, converged, and physically meaningful for design and operational decision-making.
• Develop clear visualizations, dashboards, plots, technical memos, and presentations that communicate simulation results, limitations, uncertainties, and recommended actions.
• Collaborate closely with optimization, controls, mechanical engineering, metocean data, fleet simulation, and experimental teams to close the loop between predicted and measured performance.
• Contribute to verification and validation of CFD methods using canonical cases, experimental data, sea-trial data, and internal benchmark problems.
• Run simulation workflows on on-premises and cloud-based HPC systems.
• Improve team velocity by increasing automation, reducing manual handoffs, documenting best practices, and developing reusable simulation templates.
• Use modern software and AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate coding, analysis, documentation, and simulation workflow development while maintaining strong technical judgment and verification discipline.

Required Qualifications

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar field.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, marine hydrodynamics, rigid body dynamics, and physics-based modeling.
• Significant experience running end-to-end CFD simulations for real engineering systems.
• Experience using at least one major RANS-based CFD tool such as Helyx, OpenFOAM, or Star-CCM+.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve CFD issues involving meshing, boundary conditions, convergence, numerical stability, turbulence modeling, and post-processing.
• Strong understanding of verification and validation principles, including grid convergence, sensitivity studies, uncertainty, and comparison against experimental or field data.
• Experience processing, visualizing, and interpreting complex simulation datasets.
• Working knowledge of Linux environments, scripting workflows, and HPC-based simulation execution.
• Ability to use first-principles reasoning to determine when simulation results are physically meaningful and when they require further investigation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical results and limitations to multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own and drive complex technical projects to completion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar field.
• 5+ years of industry or research experience in CFD, marine hydrodynamics, naval architecture, offshore engineering, turbomachinery, propulsion, or related fields.
• Experience with marine CFD, offshore systems, free-surface flows, multiphase flows, fluid-structure interaction, propulsion, wave-structure interaction, or complex metocean environments.
• Experience using multiple CFD tools, especially Helyx, OpenFOAM and Star-CCM+.
• Experience developing or modifying OpenFOAM, Helyx, or other CFD solver capabilities.
• Experience building CFD automation pipelines, including CAD-to-mesh-to-solve-to-post-processing workflows.
• Experience with Python, C++, Julia, Java, Bash, or other programming languages used in engineering simulation workflows.
• Experience comparing simulations to sea-trial data, wave basin data, tow tank data, or other physical test data.
• Experience working with metocean data, reanalysis datasets, wave spectra, current profiles, wind data, or measured ocean data.
• Experience with BEM, reduced-order models, time-domain simulation, or optimization workflows.
• Experience developing dashboards, automated reports, or visualization tools for simulation results.
• Experience in startup environments or fast-paced R&D teams; comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in shaping work, and adaptable to change.
• A record of mentorship, technical documentation, internal training, or leadership in simulation communities.

Additional Requirements

• Occasional extended hours or weekend work to support key milestones, sea trials, fleet operations, or urgent design decisions.
• Strong preference for candidates based in Portland, Oregon. Exceptional remote candidates will be considered, with regular travel to Portland expected.

Compensation and Benefits

• Cash compensation of $155,000–$200,000.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
• Flexible paid time off
• Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)
• Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

Our offices, lab and shop, are located in Portland, Oregon.