Lead Engineer - Thermal Dynamics

Job Description Summary

The Lead Engineer – in the Aero-Thermal Clearances Design & Systems(ATCDS) team will execute thermal design and analysis activities for turbomachinery hardware and architectures within our gas power portfolio, in support of the full product life cycle, including New Product Introduction (NPI), New Technology Introduction (NTI), test & validation, and fielded product support. This role requires technical expertise in heat transfer, secondary flow systems, and thermal analysis, along with strong analytical judgment and the ability to own work from concept through design review and final documentation with minimal oversight.
The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional global teams to deliver timely, accurate, and high-quality outcomes while driving continuous improvement through Lean principles, innovation, and advanced analytical methods.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

• Independently execute heat transfer, secondary flow, and thermal analysis and design activities for flange-to-flange stationary and rotating components across gas turbine and steam turbine products, applying sound engineering principles and adhering to business standards, design practices, procedures, and product requirements.
• Develop deep technical expertise in the thermal design of turbomachinery components and apply that expertise to independently solve design and analysis challenges with strong technical judgment and urgency.
• Execute design and analysis work across conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases for NPI, NTI, and product support programs, while developing increased autonomy and ownership.
• Build, assess, and improve thermal analysis models; independently interpret results; and prepare design review materials with clear conclusions, technical rationale, and actionable recommendations.
• Apply sound engineering judgment to evaluate design trade-offs, identify risks, and propose solutions beyond established methods and parameters when appropriate.
• Contribute to design improvement initiatives, technical problem-solving, and root cause analysis related to thermal performance, heat transfer, and secondary flow systems.
• Identify and evaluate design-to-cost opportunities across engine hardware, balancing performance, durability, and manufacturing cost implications in partnership with Mechanical, Services, and Systems Engineering teams.
• Collaborate effectively with global cross-functional teams, including mechanical, aerodynamic, performance, and clearance engineering teams, throughout the design process to deliver integrated, high-quality design solutions.
• Demonstrate innovation in thermal design practices and analysis methodologies, including the use of probabilistic methods, digital tools, automation, and AI/ML techniques where relevant to improve product and process outcomes.
• Apply Lean principles in daily execution, improve standard work, and contribute to engineering templates, best practices, and process improvements that reduce rework and improve quality.
• Document technical data, analysis outputs, assumptions, and conclusions in accordance with engineering design templates and established design practices. Ensure complete, accurate, and traceable documentation and model management for assigned projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Thermal Science, Thermal and Fluid Engineering, Heat Transfer analysis, or a related field, with a strong academic record.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience in heat transfer, secondary flow analysis, or thermal analysis and design for turbomachinery, or comparable.

Desired Characteristics

• Masters or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Thermal Science, Thermal and Fluid Engineering, Heat Transfer, or a related field, with a strong academic record.
• Demonstrated experience in thermal design and analysis of turbomachinery components, including heat transfer and secondary flow systems.
• Experience with engineering tools such as ANSYS Thermal, HyperModel, HyperWorks, CFX, ICEM CFD, or equivalent analysis platforms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project execution skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to work effectively in a global matrix organization with a positive “can do” attitude.
• Strong customer and product mindset, with a focus on quality, operability, and timely execution.
• Demonstrated mindset of ownership and accountability to achieve goals.
• Experience architecting solutions utilizing programming and scripting in languages such as Python, Fortran, Visual Basic, or Java for engineering automation and analysis efficiency.
• Ability to evaluate and select AI/ML strategies for long-term design system improvement
• Practitioner of Lean tools to identify, evaluate, and implement innovative solutions

Additional Information