General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Thermal- and Fluid-Systems Analysis Engineer in the San Diego (Poway, CA) area. In this role, you will contribute directly to the design, analysis, and development of propulsion and thermal management systems for next-generation unmanned aircraft platforms. Responsibilities include leading CFD analyses of internal combustion engines and aircraft fluid systems, developing performance models in MATLAB/Simulink, supporting engine integration and cooling system design, and conducting thermal and fluid system trade studies. This position offers competitive benefits, including 9/80 work schedule, medical, dental, employer-matched 401(k), pension plan, employee referral program, and more.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead CFD studies of internal combustion engines, intake/exhaust systems, and propulsion-airframe integration using CONVERGE or similar tools
• Develop and maintain MATLAB/Simulink models for engine performance, thermal management systems, and aircraft fluid systems
• Analyze air cooling, liquid cooling, and fuel system architectures to support conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases
• Perform thermal and fluid system trade studies to optimize cooling effectiveness, weight, and integration complexity
• Conduct transient and steady-state simulations to evaluate system performance across the flight envelope
• Define appropriate modeling strategies and fidelity levels for propulsion and thermal systems across program maturity
• Support engine test planning, execution, and correlation of analytical predictions to experimental data
• Collaborate with airframe, structures, and flight controls teams to ensure integrated system performance
• Contribute to internal toolchain development, workflow automation, and advanced modeling capability
• Participate in internal and customer-facing design reviews, test readiness reviews, and technical meetings
• Contribute to a broad swath of novel remotely-piloted aircraft platforms

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: nine or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, seven or more years of experience with a master’s degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python and MATLAB for scientific computing and workflow automation
• Security Clearance is desirable
• Demonstrated ownership of complete CFD workflows, including CAD preparation, mesh generation, solver setup, convergence assessment, and results post-processing
• Strong foundational understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, turbulence modeling, and numerical methods
• Experience with aircraft fluid systems design and analysis, including air cooling, liquid cooling, and fuel systems
• Solid understanding of internal combustion engine fundamentals, including piston engines, thermodynamic cycles, combustion processes, and performance characteristics
• Strong proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for system-level modeling and simulation
• Demonstrated applied experience using CFD tools such as CONVERGE, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, or similar for internal combustion engine analysis
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOD Security Clearance is required.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with engine-airframe integration and propulsion system installation design
• Experience developing reduced-order models or control-oriented models for real-time simulation
• Familiarity with 1D system modeling tools (e.g., GT-SUITE, AMESim, Ricardo WAVE)
• Experience with experimental engine testing, instrumentation, and data correlation
• Demonstrated validation, verification, and uncertainty quantification (UQ) of propulsion system models
• Experience with optimization methods applied to thermal management or propulsion system design
• Knowledge of aircraft electrical systems and hybrid-electric propulsion architectures
• Experience contributing to production-quality engineering software using modern development practices

Job Category

Engineering

Experience Level

Senior (8+ years)

Workstyle

Onsite

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low

109,500

Pay Range High

187,875

Travel Percentage Required

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?

Yes

US Citizenship Required?

Yes

Clearance Required?

Desired

Clearance Level

Secret

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