Senior Principal Engineer, Combustion CFD

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems to support the warfighter. Through the integration of additive manufacturing, the company aims to meet the growing and urgent needs for unmanned aerial defense by dramatically improving a jet engine’s speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost.

Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with additional facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Beehive is committed to grow and advance the defense industrial base while manufacturing exclusively in the USA. This role can be located at our Englewood, Colorado or Loveland, Ohio facility.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Sr. Principal Engineer, Combustion CFD Specialist to support the design and analysis of aero gas-turbine combustors. The ideal candidate will have expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling using common CFD codes such as ANSYS Fluent and simulation methodologies like RANS and LES.

What You'll Do...

• Develop and execute CFD simulations for gas-turbine combustor performance analysis
• Manipulate CAD models and generate computational meshes with rapid meshing techniques
• Model reacting flows, including fuel injection, vaporization, and combustion (diffusion and premix burning)
• Simulate fuel-air mixing and spray dynamics to optimize combustor efficiency and emissions
• Implement conjugate heat transfer (CHT) simulations to analyze thermal behavior
• Model ignition processes for reliable engine start-up and operation
• Perform post-processing to extract key performance metrics, such as exit temperature pattern factors and profiles
• Collaborate with design and engineering teams to enhance combustor performance
  
  

You have...

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Hands-on experience with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM , or OpenFOAM
• 15 years of combustion CFD experience
• Strong background in turbulent reacting flows, combustion chemistry, and spray modeling
• Proficiency in meshing tools (ICEM, ANSYS Meshing, Pointwise, etc.)
• Knowledge of high-temperature fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and combustion kinetics
• Experience in interpreting and validating CFD results against experimental data
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented environment
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. Citizenship is required, as only U.S. Citizens are eligible for a security clearance
  
  

Nice to have...

• Experience in standing up CFD computer resource capability and the ability to manage the tradeoffs between cost, time, and quality for performing different levels of CFD analysis vis-à-vis available computer resources
• Experience with high-fidelity LES simulations for combustion applications
• Familiarity with chemical kinetics mechanisms and reduced-order modeling
• Knowledge of combustor emissions modeling (e.g., NOx, CO formation)
• Python, MATLAB, or scripting experience for automation and data analysis
  
  

If this sounds like you, please submit an application with your resume. This could be the opportunity you are looking for to expand your skills, contribute to a winning team, and work with talented people who love what they do and take pride in our mission.

Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverage from day one. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match. Every role at Beehive Industries is bonus eligible and will also receive equity in the company.

Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.