Senior Robotics Simulation Engineer - Thermal & Fluids Analysis

Boston Dynamics is looking for a Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer to join our Virtual Product Development team. As a Senior Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer focusing on Thermal & Fluids Analysis. You will be responsible for defining the global thermal management strategy and multi-physics simulation roadmap for Boston Dynamics' next-generation robotic platforms. This role transcends traditional analysis by establishing the foundational methodologies, standardized workflows, and high-fidelity correlation frameworks required for complex robotic actuators.

As a top-level subject matter expert, you will bridge the gap between advanced thermal-fluid science and scalable hardware production, ensuring that our robots can operate reliably in the world's most challenging environments. Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest robotics challenges. For years, our awe-inspiring viral videos on You Tube have shown the world what remarkably capable robots can do.

Now we are quickly becoming a recognized leader in automation solutions for industrial applications and warehouse logistics.

• Define the long-term vision for thermal and fluid dynamics simulation across the organization, aligning virtual product development (VPD) with the hardware engineering roadmap.
• Create and enforce standardized, practical CFD evaluation processes that transition our capabilities from academic research to high-velocity industrial execution (EVT/DVT/PVT).
• Lead the design of sophisticated thermal experiments and instrumentation strategies to synchronize simulation models with empirical data, achieving industry-leading predictive accuracy.
• Drive structural and thermal trade-off decisions for high-torque actuators, influencing mechanical architecture to optimize heat dissipation, weight, and power density.
• Build and govern a comprehensive, proprietary database of robotics-specific parameters, including advanced air models, radiation emissivity, and contact resistance coefficients.
• Lead the integration of thermal-fluid analysis with Static/Dynamic FEA, evaluating the holistic impact of thermal gradients on structural integrity and robotic precision.
• Serve as a key advisor to leadership on technical risks and hardware scalability, influencing design decisions across mechanical, electrical, and control software teams.
• Lead the technical review board for all thermal/fluid-related analyses and mentor other engineers to elevate the organization's collective simulation expertise.

• Strategic Execution:
  Translate high-level product goals into concrete simulation milestones, delivering robust hardware solutions even under extreme technical ambiguity.
• Systemic
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Navigate complex organizational structures to align divergent technical requirements into a unified, high-performance system design.
• Disruptive Innovation:
  Identify and implement cutting-edge simulation technologies (e.g., AI-driven optimization, real-time thermal digital twins) to maintain a competitive edge.
• Organizational Maturity:
  Proactively identifies gaps in current development processes and implements structural changes to boost engineering efficiency.

• Unrivaled proficiency in Ansys Fluent/Mechanical, STAR-CCM+, or Simcenter Flotherm, with deep experience in custom UDF (User Defined Function) development.
• Doctoral-level understanding of conduction, convection, and radiation, specifically in the context of high-power-density electromechanical systems.
• Proven ability to lead complex lab setups, utilizing high-end data acquisition (DAQ) and sensing technologies to validate virtual twins.
• Mastery of Python, C++, or MATLAB to build proprietary simulation tools and automate enterprise-level workflows.
• Deep knowledge of high-performance materials, aerospace-grade coatings, and advanced manufacturing processes for robotic components.

• PhD or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Thermal Science with a focus on fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
• 10+ years of professional experience, with a proven record of establishing simulation departments or leading large-scale virtual validation programs for complex products.
• Demonstrated success in taking a product from blank-sheet architecture through mass production, specifically managing the thermal challenges of high-density actuators.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not…