CFD Engineer, Data Centers

AECOM

. Own the full CFD study lifecycle from defining the design question through issuing technical reports .

Posted 10/13/2026full-timeRemote • Virginia • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $120,000 - $200,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with a focus on data center thermal management, including airflow and thermal studies, modeling, and technical reporting. Proficient in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and HVAC systems, with strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Highest-signal resume keywords

CFD ExperienceData Center Thermal ManagementTechnical WritingFluid MechanicsHVAC System Operation

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

CFD ModelingThermal AnalysisData Center Cooling ArchitecturesGeometry PreparationMeshingSolver SetupConvergence AssessmentPost-ProcessingBoundary Condition DevelopmentThermal Performance Metrics

Soft Skills

Technical WritingVisualizationPresentation SkillsMentoring

Tools & Technologies

Cadence 6SigmaDCXAnsys FluentAnsys CFXOpenFOAM

Industry Keywords

ASHRAE TC 9.9Thermal ManagementMission-Critical FacilitiesContainment SystemsCooling Equipment

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Airflow

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the full CFD study lifecycle from defining the design question through issuing technical reports
Perform internal data hall airflow and thermal studies covering rack temperatures, airflow distribution, containment, bypass, recirculation, cooling-unit placement, rack density, failure modes, and capacity expansion
Perform external studies for cooling towers, chillers, dry coolers, generator and boiler exhaust, mechanical yards, relief air, outdoor-air intakes, heat rejection, plume behavior, short-circuiting, and thermal re-entrainment
Conduct steady-state and transient analyses for cooling-system outages, equipment failures, load changes, control sequences, and thermal ride-through
Develop and document modeling assumptions using design documents, equipment data, controls narratives, weather data, commissioning information, and field measurements
Apply verification and validation practices, including mesh-sensitivity checks, mass and energy balance reviews, convergence assessment, hand calculations, and correlation to measured data
Evaluate results against project-specific criteria, ASHRAE TC 9.9 guidance, and applicable client, code, and industry requirements
Translate findings into actionable recommendations for equipment selection, airflow management, containment, intake/exhaust separation, controls, phasing, redundancy, and operational resilience
Prepare client-ready reports and visualizations communicating methodology, assumptions, scenarios, results, risks, limitations, and next steps
Present findings and coordinate with multidisciplinary project teams and clients
Contribute to standardized templates, modeling procedures, quality-control checklists, libraries, and lessons learned
Support technical knowledge sharing and mentoring of less-experienced staff

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline
6+ years of hands-on CFD experience, including direct application to data centers, mission-critical facilities, or similarly complex thermal-management environments
Proficiency with at least one data-center or general-purpose CFD platform, such as Cadence 6SigmaDCX, Ansys Fluent, Ansys CFX, or OpenFOAM
Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, turbulence modeling, and HVAC system operation
Experience modeling both internal environments, such as IT spaces and containment systems, and external environments, such as mechanical yards, cooling equipment, intakes, and exhaust discharges
Working knowledge of data center cooling architectures, HVAC systems, redundancy concepts, controls and failure scenarios, and common thermal performance metrics
Experience independently delivering CFD studies from scoping through final report
Experience with geometry preparation, meshing, solver setup, convergence assessment, post-processing, and engineering interpretation
Ability to develop appropriate boundary conditions from design information and equipment performance data
Strong technical writing, visualization, and presentation skills
Sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is not available now or in the future
Ability to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision benefits
Life, AD&D, and disability benefits
Paid time off
Leaves of absences
Voluntary benefits and perks
Flexible work options
Well-being resources
Employee assistance program
Business travel insurance
Service recognition awards
Retirement savings plan
Employee stock purchase plan
Award-winning training and development programs
Career growth and mobility opportunities