CFD Team Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee the daily operations, quality, staffing, client engagement, and performance of the CFD team.

• Manage direct reports through one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations, career development planning, hiring processes, PTO approvals, timesheet and expense assessments, staffing, and workload distribution.

• Guide team members and encourage delegation, ownership, and continuous improvement.

• Provide technical oversight for CFD analysis scope, methodologies, modeling strategies, meshing, boundary conditions, and modeling techniques.

• Coordinate and supervise QA/QC reviews of CFD reports and deliverables.

• Develop and update CFD standards, templates, calculators, and SharePoint documentation.

• Act as an escalation point for unresolved technical issues.

• Assess competing software platforms, licensing requirements, industry trends, and new analysis techniques.

• Represent the CFD team in client meetings and foster key client relationships.

• Identify opportunities for expanding CFD scope and assist in proposal development with input on scope, schedule, and budget.

• Create marketing materials, whitepapers, and presentations for conferences.

• Monitor project financial performance, including profitability, resource utilization, schedules, deliverables, and software license expenses.

• Provide the Design Director with a concise weekly report on team status, risks, and priorities.

• Contribute to long-term CFD capability planning and departmental strategic initiatives.

• Utilize AI-enabled and digital tools to enhance efficiency, processes, and work quality.

• Complete assigned tasks and deliverables on time and within budget.

• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field with a minimum of 3 years of consultancy experience; OR a Master’s or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with at least 2 years of consultancy experience.

• Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and hydraulics, including the impacts of pumps, valves, pipe networks, and controls.

• Understanding of organizational objectives, company policies, budgeting, and financial management principles.

• Excellent leadership, tactical decision-making, communication, interpersonal, mentoring, and people management skills.

• Proven experience in managing teams, including performance management, coaching, and career development.

• Capability to establish operational objectives and work plans, delegate tasks, evaluate technical outputs, and identify quality issues.

• Working knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and CFD fundamentals.

• Familiarity with mechanical systems and cooling technologies in data centers, such as CRAHs, fan walls, in-row coolers, direct-to-chip cooling, and rear-door heat exchangers.

• Familiarity with CFD software tools like Cadence Reality DC Design, Star-CCM+, or ANSYS Fluent, sufficient to assess modeling approaches.

• Proficient in interpreting CFD results and reports, identifying gaps, inconsistencies, or quality issues.

• Enthusiasm for staying updated on CFD industry trends, software platforms, and analysis techniques.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.

• Familiarity with project and resource tracking tools is advantageous.

• Ability to thrive in a remote work environment with effective communication, organization, self-motivation, proactivity, and resourcefulness.

• Proficient in analyzing and preparing documents, reports, and correspondence.

• Capable of conveying technical and non-technical information both orally and in writing.

• Ability to perform under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple priorities and direct reports.

• Capacity to work in an environment free from distractions.

• Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position, navigate through office/facility environments, and occasionally lift equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.

🏝️ Benefits

• Choice of comprehensive medical plans, including two PPO-style options and a HDHP with HSA option.

• Flexible spending accounts (FSA).

• Dental and vision coverage.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits extended to spouses/domestic partners and dependent children up to age 26.

• 401(k) plan with company match and self-directed brokerage account option.

• Paid time off, including additional leave during the last week of the year.

• Company-paid life insurance for employees and eligible dependents.

• Short- and long-term disability and AD&D coverage.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Tuition reimbursement program.

• Assistance with professional licensing.

• Paid parental leave after one year of employment.

• Approximately 10% business travel, including visits to client sites, meetings, business development activities, errands, and industry conferences.