Job Description
Job Description: Turbomachinery Performance & Aerodynamics Engineer
Overview
We are a specialist engineering organization seeking a Turbomachinery Performance & Aerodynamics Engineer to play a critical role in the design, aerodynamic definition, and performance optimization of advanced turbomachinery. This is a fixed-term contract (3–6 months) with the flexibility to work in a hybrid or fully remote arrangement.
The role is embedded in a fast-paced development environment, where you will apply first-principles engineering to solve complex problems and develop innovative, traceable solutions. The successful candidate will contribute to cycle modeling, throughflow analysis, aerodynamic design, CFD, and performance validation in support of cutting-edge turbomachinery development programs.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative workplace where all team members thrive. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Develop and maintain cycle models across design-point and off-design operating conditions.
- Lead compressor and turbine performance tasks, including system flow matching across the full operating range.
- Conduct preliminary and detailed aerodynamic design of compressors and turbines using first-principles calculations, meanline analysis, and geometric modeling.
- Create, scale, and interpret performance maps for turbomachinery components, assessing surge margins, choke limits, and running lines.
- Evaluate turbomachinery performance across transient conditions such as start-up, idle, and acceleration.
- Perform CFD simulations and interpret results for both stationary and rotating turbomachinery components.
- Reconcile CFD data with meanline calculations, experimental measurements, and performance maps.
- Analyze the effects of leakage, secondary flows, and other loss mechanisms on system efficiency.
- Support validation strategies, including rig testing, data reduction, and performance validation.
- Assist with instrumentation requirements and test planning for performance measurement.
- Identify potential technical risks early and provide recommendations to minimize impact on project timelines.
- Communicate engineering assumptions, results, risks, and design changes to cross-functional teams.
- Take ownership of complex engineering challenges that require independent problem-solving skills.
- Support adjacent engineering activities as needed within a lean and agile team environment.
Required Qualifications
To succeed in this role, you will bring:
- A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in turbomachinery performance or aerodynamic design (industry or equivalent development programs).
- Proven experience in delivering compressor and/or turbine performance and aerodynamic design activities.
- A strong understanding of turbomachinery aerodynamics, thermodynamics, gas dynamics, and loss mechanisms.
- Practical experience in compressor and turbine matching.
- A systems-level understanding of turbomachinery, including its interactions with combustors, rotors, ducting, and control systems.
- Proficiency in applying first-principles engineering methods to complex, incomplete problems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to select appropriate levels of modeling and simulation.
- Ownership mentality with the ability to meet tight project timelines.
- Excellent communication skills to clearly present assumptions, trade-offs, and uncertainties.
- Flexibility to contribute across multiple engineering disciplines in a small, dynamic team.
- UK right-to-work status (required).
Highly Advantageous Experience
Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in:
- Simulation tools such as GasTurb, CFTurbo, Simerics, ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, or OpenFOAM.
- Developing performance maps using CFD and reconciling results against predictions and test data.
- Designing and analyzing radial or mixed-flow compressors, radial or axial turbines.
- Working with turbochargers or small gas turbines.
- Understanding engine control strategies, including fuel scheduling, acceleration limits, speed governing, surge avoidance, and start sequencing.
- Mechanical considerations such as rotor stress, blade dynamics, rotordynamics, and additive manufacturing.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a technically adept, proactive, and commercially aware engineer who:
- Combines deep theoretical expertise with practical engineering judgment.
- Thrives in an independent, high-stakes environment where decisions are based on minimal information.
- Communicates technical conclusions in a clear, concise, and collaborative manner.
- Understands how individual component decisions influence overall system performance.
Diversity and inclusion are integral to our mission, and we strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, minoritized communities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
Day-to-Day
As a Turbomachinery Performance & Aerodynamics Engineer, you’ll focus on:
- Modeling and analyzing advanced turbomachinery performance.
- Developing aerodynamic designs and interpreting CFD simulations.
- Communicating actionable insights and recommendations to cross-disciplinary teams.
- Collaborating with testing teams to validate performance predictions.
- Applying creative problem-solving to technical challenges.