Thermo-Aero Engineer I

Job Summary

Join our Fitchburg, MA Mechanical Engineering team as a Thermo-Aero Engineer I.

This position is intended for an early career engineer who will support steam turbine performance and flow path development through a combination of thermodynamic and aerodynamic analysis. The role is designed as a growth position for candidates with an aerospace or mechanical engineering background and an interest in thermal-fluid systems, rotating machinery, and multidisciplinary engineering.

The engineer in this role will contribute to analyses, design evaluations, and performance improvement efforts for turbine-related hardware while working closely with mechanical, acoustic, and other engineering disciplines. This blended position provides the opportunity to develop depth in thermo, aero, or integrated performance engineering over time.

What You Will Do

• Support thermodynamic and aerodynamic evaluation of steam turbine components and flow paths.
• Assist with performance analyses used to assess turbine efficiency, flow behavior, and overall system operation.
• Contribute to CFD, thermal-fluid, and related engineering analyses using commercial tools, internal methods, or equivalent approaches.
• Partner with experienced engineers to investigate flow, pressure, temperature, and energy distribution issues within turbine systems and supporting hardware.
• Help develop design trade studies that balance performance objectives with mechanical, structural, manufacturability, and program requirements.
• Support the integration of thermo-aerodynamic design considerations with adjacent engineering disciplines including mechanical, acoustic, and systems engineering.
• Assist in preparing technical reports, presentations, and engineering recommendations based on analysis results.
• Participate in design reviews, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts for naval power system products.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related technical field.
• 0–3 years of relevant experience, including internships, co-ops, research, or project work in thermal-fluid systems, turbomachinery, propulsion, or related applications.
• Academic or practical background in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, aerodynamics, or compressible flow.
• Exposure to CFD, thermal analysis, or performance modeling through coursework, research, internships, or industry experience.
• Interest in applying engineering fundamentals to rotating machinery, steam turbines, gas turbines, or other performance-driven fluid systems.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment and learn from senior engineers across related disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to document methods, assumptions, and conclusions clearly.

Helpful Skills and Aptiitude to Grow

• Experience with commercial analysis tools such as Ansys Fluent, CFX, TurboGrid, BladeModeler, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent engineering software.
• Exposure to turbomachinery concepts, energy conversion systems, propulsion, or rotating equipment performance analysis.
• Familiarity with design-of-experiments, parameter studies, or data reduction methods.
• Interest in growing into deeper specialization in thermodynamic analysis, aerodynamic design, CFD, or integrated performance engineering.
• Exposure to defense industry products, Navy applications, or highly regulated engineering environments is beneficial but not required.