Sr. Computational Fluid Dynamics Analyst

Overview

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Requisition

The Advanced Engineering Technologies (AET) Group is seeking a senior computational fluid dynamics analyst specializing in the use and development of computational simulation software for complex aerodynamic systems in the support of the nonproliferation mission space. This position will involve the creation and use of custom developed and off-the-shelf computational approaches in a research and development atmosphere.

• You will, in collaboration with principal investigators and project management at ORNL, participate in the development of simulation software to model complex system flows in processes relevant to the nuclear nonproliferation mission space.
• You will be expected to be a heavy end user of the tools generated, participate in model validation activities, identify workflow improvements, and communicate issues to the development team for tool improvement.
• Analysis of ad hoc problem sets relevant to the nuclear nonproliferation mission space is expected.
• Performing well as part of a larger project team and being capable of developing simulation software in a collaborative development environment.
• In addition to these responsibilities, you will be a contributor to R&D projects and will be expected to report on and brief results throughout the lifecycle of the various projects assigned to them.
• In this position effectively interacting with various ORNL staff as well as internal and external sponsors is required.
• If selected, you will be expected to work in a team environment with co-workers and management as well as independently; to fully document work performed in the forms of technical reports, papers and presentations; and to participate in the development of research proposals.
• You will interface with principal investigators, management, engineers, fabricators, modelers, and test campaign personnel.

• M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field, and a minimum of 12 years of related experience; or a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or related field and a minimum of 6 years of related experience.
• Excellent communication skills including verbal, presentation, and writing skills are required.

• Demonstrated expertise in computational fluid dynamics analysis, with an emphasis on:
• Mesh generation
• Steady and unsteady flows
• Sensitivity studies
• Validation activities
• Expertise in computational modeling, including numerical analysis, finite element methods, and software engineering
• Experience in software development in the C++ and Python languages
• The ability to work flexible hours and travel
• Experience in an R&D and/or testing environment
• Experience executing in a high-performance computing environment
• Use of AI/ML techniques to develop surrogate models and support scientific discovery
• Experience in multiphysics modeling
• Experience in parallel programming on large-scale computational clusters
• Expertise in Matlab programming
• Active TS/SCI Clearance is preferred

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

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