Principal CFD Modeling Engineer

Company Overview

Throughout our worldwide network of experts, clients and communities, we are renowned for our leadership in fire protection engineering - a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939. Today, our expertise extends broadly across closely related security and risk-based fields - from accessibility consulting and risk analysis to process safety, forensic investigations, security risk consulting, emergency management, digital innovation and more.

Our engineers and consultants collaborate to solve complex safety and security challenges, ensuring our clients can protect what matters most. For over 80 years, we have helped mitigate risks that threaten lives, property and reputations. Through technology, expertise and industry-leading research, we remain dedicated to our purpose of making our world safe, secure and resilient.

At Jensen Hughes, we believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth starts with putting our people first. Our employees are our greatest strength, and we value the unique perspectives and talents they bring to our organization. 

Our wide range of Global Employee Networks connect people from across the organization, supporting career development and providing forums for individuals to share experiences on topics they're passionate about. Together, we are cultivating a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed together.

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes is seeking a Principal CFD Modeling Engineer to serve as a senior technical leader in advanced fire and thermal-fluid modeling. This role is designed for an expert practitioner with deep mastery of the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) who is motivated by solving complex, real-world fire and fluid-flow problems through rigorous, physics-based modeling and experimental validation.

In this role, you will operate at the intersection of advanced computation, fire testing, and applied research, influencing both project outcomes and the evolution of company-wide modeling methodologies. You will be trusted to lead technically challenging work, mentor other engineers, and represent Jensen Hughes as a thought leader with clients and the broader fire science community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and refinement of high-fidelity CFD models using FDS for fire dynamics, fluid flow, and heat transfer applications

• Partner closely with experimental testing teams to design test programs, select instrumentation, and produce high-quality validation datasets

• Analyze experimental results and integrate findings into model validation and improvement frameworks

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers, helping shape best practices in CFD modeling and fire science

• Present technical work to clients, industry groups, and at professional conferences

• Author and review technical reports, proposals, and peer-reviewed publications

• Support strategic initiatives related to physics-based modeling, test programs, and methodology development

Requirements and Qualifications

• Graduate degree in engineering with a focus on thermal-fluid sciences

• 15+ years of professional experience applying CFD tools (including FDS) to fire dynamics, heat transfer, and fluid-flow problems across commercial and applied research projects

  • Directly relevant post-graduate research may count for up to five years of this experience

• Deep working knowledge of the FDS Validation Guide, Technical Reference Guide, and User Guide

• Advanced understanding of topics such as: Radiation transport equations, Gas-phase absorption coefficients, Pyrolysis modeling within the FDS framework

• Demonstrated experience using experimental fire test data to validate and refine numerical models

• Knowledge of numerical modeling approaches and their limitations, particularly for large-scale or outdoor fire scenarios

• Proficiency in Python and Fortran or similar scientific programming languages

• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex modeling results to technical and non-technical audiences

• Ability to work independently while also thriving in a collaborative, multidisciplinary technical environment

• U.S. Citizen required.

Please note that the salary range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting and not a guarantee of compensation. Final compensation may vary  based on factors, including but not limited to, responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, geographic location, internal equity, alignment with market data.

Jensen Hughes offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a retirement plan, healthcare coverage, and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position and location.

National Pay Range

$90,000—$197,000 USD

Jensen Hughes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

At Jensen Hughes, we embrace innovation and understand that people are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and other generative platforms to learn, prepare and communicate.  We have provided some guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI in the recruitment process.  Please click here to review.

The security of your personal data is important to us. Jensen Hughes has implemented reasonable physical, technical, and administrative security standards to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. We protect your personal data against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure, using security technologies and procedures, such as encryption and limited access. Only authorized individuals may access your personal data for the purpose for which it was collected, and these individuals receive training about the importance of protecting personal data.  Jensen Hughes is committed to compliance with all relevant data privacy laws in all areas where we do business, including, but not limited to, the GDPR and the CCPA.  Additionally, our service providers are contractually bound to maintain the confidentiality of personal data and may not use the information for any unauthorized purpose.

*Policy on use of 3rd party recruiting agency for direct placements

Jensen Hughes will occasionally augment a recruiting search through agencies for certain positions when business conditions warrant. Jensen Hughes will not accept resumes, inquiries or proposals from recruiting agencies as an acceptable method to consider a candidate. 3rd party recruiting agencies must sign a standard Jensen Hughes agreement after being evaluated and accepted by a Human Resources or Talent Acquisition manager, or member of the talent acquisition team. Hiring managers and employees of Jensen Hughes are not authorized to accept resumes, engage in fee-based searches through recruiting firms or sign a search agreement. Please note this policy does not apply to “staffing firms” or firms that are involved with hiring temporary staff. Any recruiting agency interested in being considered may contact our recruiting team at jensenhughesrecruiting.com.