Senior Thermofluids Engineer

Senior Thermofluids Engineer - Lead thermal hardware development for next-generation power systemsHawthorne, California | On-siteOpportunity SummaryJoin a well-capitalized seed-stage energy hardware company developing a new generation of compact, high-output power systems. The team is redesigning traditional power-generation architecture around advanced thermodynamic cycles, modern turbomachinery, and factory-built hardware that can be deployed significantly faster than conventional power infrastructure. As a Senior Thermofluids Engineer, you will own the thermal-fluid design of the heat-exchange hardware at the center of the system. You will drive architecture, 3D CFD analysis, CAD design, sizing, supplier execution, and hardware validation across high-pressure and high-temperature operating conditions. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who can move between analysis and detailed mechanical design, then carry that work into fabricated and tested hardware.About UsWe are a recently funded seed-stage energy technology company building modular power-generation hardware for rapidly growing energy markets. Our approach combines advanced turbomachinery, compact heat-transfer systems, and scalable manufacturing to create power equipment with a smaller physical footprint and reduced infrastructure requirements. Hardware is already being assembled and tested, with the team moving quickly toward larger systems, customer deployments, and production.Job DutiesOwn thermal-fluid design for the system's recuperation, primary heat-transfer, and heat-rejection hardwareLead 3D CFD analysis for flow distribution, heat transfer, pressure loss, thermal behavior, and conjugate heat-transfer problemsBuild and iterate detailed CAD models of heat exchangers, manifolds, headers, flow passages, and associated thermal hardwareTranslate CFD and thermal-analysis results directly into geometry and mechanical design changesSize heat exchangers using effectiveness, NTU, heat-transfer, and pressure-drop analysisDevelop channel, core, header, and manifold geometries for efficient and uniform flow distributionPredict thermal and fluid performance across nominal, transient, and off-design operating conditionsBuild and maintain 1D thermal-hydraulic and network models to support component and system-level design decisionsBalance thermal performance, pressure drop, packaging, structural constraints, manufacturability, and scheduleWork closely with cycle, mechanical, structural, manufacturing, and test engineers to define interfaces and operating requirementsLead technical coordination with heat-exchanger suppliers and fabricators through design reviews, manufacturing, inspection, and acceptanceSupport hardware assembly, instrumentation, testing, troubleshooting, and model-to-test correlationUse test results to improve CFD models, design assumptions, and future hardware iterationsQualificationsBachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical fieldStrong foundation in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanicsSignificant hands-on experience using 3D CFD for thermal-fluid hardware designExperience with conjugate heat transfer, internal flows, pressure-drop prediction, and flow-distribution analysisStrong CAD experience with the ability to independently create and modify detailed mechanical hardwareExperience using CAD and CFD together as part of an iterative design processHands-on experience designing and sizing heat exchangers or other high-performance thermal-fluid hardwareExperience calculating pressure drop, heat-transfer performance, effectiveness, and thermal operating limitsProficiency with 1D or network-based thermal-fluid modelingTrack record of taking designs from analysis and CAD through fabrication and physical testingAbility to work effectively across simulation, detailed design, suppliers, manufacturing, and testStrong technical communication skills and comfort operating with significant engineering ownershipPreferred ExperienceSupercritical CO₂ systems or other high-pressure, real-gas, or near-critical fluid applicationsCompact or high-effectiveness heat exchangers such as printed-circuit, microchannel, or plate-fin designsAdvanced CFD workflows including conjugate heat transfer, meshing strategy, turbulence modeling, and model validationParametric CAD, design optimization, and design-for-manufacturing experienceHigh-temperature and high-pressure thermal systemsAdditively manufactured heat exchangers or complex internal flow hardwareAir-cooled heat rejection or dry-cooling systemsCombustion-side heat transfer, fired heaters, burners, or related equipmentPressure-containing hardware including thermal stress, creep, fatigue, and pressure-boundary designHeat-exchanger testing and model-to-test correlationASME pressure vessel or heat-exchanger design standardsTurbomachinery, propulsion, power generation, nuclear, industrial process, or advanced energy hardwareEarly-stage startup or rapid hardware-development experienceWhy Join UsJoin a well-capitalized seed-stage company at the point where first-of-kind hardware is moving into larger-scale systems and customer deploymentOwn a technically critical subsystem with direct influence on overall system efficiency, packaging, and performanceWork across CFD, CAD, hardware design, manufacturing, and test rather than operating only as an analystWork directly with the founding team and experienced engineers developing complex turbomachinery and power hardwareTake hardware from analysis and detailed design through fabrication, testing, iteration, and eventual productionMeaningful equity ownershipCompany-sponsored medical, dental, and vision insuranceFully stocked kitchen with snacks, coffee, and lunchCompensation Details$180,000 - $230,000