CFD Modeler

Build the future, spark innovation and align your career with purpose.

McKinstry is innovating the waste and climate harm out of the built environment and creating lasting impact. Together, we’re building a thriving planet.

Buildings are a leading contributor to the climate crisis, generating nearly 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions. We’re making a lasting impact on our industry and within our communities by addressing the climate, affordability and equity crises through:

• renewables and energy services
• engineering and design
• construction and facility services

To get where we’re going, we need big thinkers, problem solvers and collaborative mindsets. Does that sound like you?

We are enhancing our mechanical engineering and building performance analysis services by seeking a dedicated CFD Modeler specializing in data centers. You will help our clients evaluate design options, improve thermal performance, and de‑risk designs and operations through validated simulation and clear, actionable recommendations. Position responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain data center CFD models for interior (data halls, white space) and exterior (generators, fluid coolers) spaces. System types include both airside and waterside MEP equipment.
• Define and track boundary conditions such as the temperatures at equipment inlets and outlets, how air moves through the space, and how systems perform during outages.
• Choose the right methods for simulating airflow and generate accurate and reliable simulation models.
• Run steady‑state and targeted transient analyses for failure modes to see how the systems respond to different situations, such as equipment failures or changes in power.
• Perform parametric analyses on system options to find the best solutions for cooling and energy use.
• Prepare geometry from CAD/BIM (Revit/Navisworks/AutoCAD) and automate pre/post‑processing and reporting where practical.
• Proficient and able to coach/delegate building performance analysis activities, including benchmarking, system analysis, whole building performance modeling, detailed performance calculations, engineering economics, on‑site audits, and creation and delivery of client‑facing deliverables across building, portfolio, and district scales.

• Communicate complex results to non‑technical audiences through clear visuals, annotated plots, and concise summaries.
• Develop brief technical memos and structured reports that translate findings into recommended design/operational changes and quantified impacts.
• Maintain model assumptions, version control, and reproducible workflows.

• Participate in client meetings, milestone presentations, and design reviews; explain options, risks, trade‑offs, and decision implications.
• Work directly with mechanical, electrical, controls, and operations engineers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate across various internal engineering, construction, manufacturing, and operations groups at McKinstry.
• Create project work plans for large tasks or small projects to match effort to project scope and fees.
• Network and engage with local professional societies, seek opportunities to present work at conferences.

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Architectural Engineering (or related field) with emphasis on fluid mechanics/heat transfer.
• 3–5 years of hands‑on CFD experience; at least 2 years in data centers or closely related thermal airflow domains; a total of eight (8) years of experience in a related field is preferred.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.
• Strong understanding of airflow dynamics, heat transfer, HVAC principles.
• Proficiency in one or more tools:
  Cadence Reality DC/6
  
  Sigma Room, Simcenter STAR‑CCM+, Ansys Fluent, OpenFOAM, or similar.
• Grounding in ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines and containment strategies.
• Experience with high‑density compute environments and various cooling topologies (aircooled, liquid cooled, containment).
• Experience with liquid cooling (rear‑door HXs, direct‑to‑chip) and…