Lead CFD Analyst (Mission Critical/Data Center)

Keep the Internet Running and the World Working

At WSP USA, we design the infrastructure that powers the digital world. Our Center of Excellence support the cloud, artificial intelligence, financial systems, healthcare, communications, and countless technologies that organizations and communities rely on every day.

We are seeking a Lead CFD Analyst to join our growing Data Centers Analytics team. This role offers the opportunity to serve as a technical leader, drive innovation in computational modeling, mentor emerging talent, and shape best practices that influence some of the world's most advanced data center projects.

Locations: New York, NY | Troy, NY | Atlanta, GA | Milwaukee, WI | Tempe, AZ | Herndon, VA

Your Impact

As a Lead CFD Analyst, you will serve as a subject matter expert and technical leader within our Data Centers Analytics practice. You will lead complex CFD studies, guide project teams, advance modeling capabilities, and help establish technical standards that drive project quality and consistency across the organization.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the execution of advanced CFD analyses for mission critical facilities, including indoor airflow, thermal management, cooling optimization, contaminant dispersion, condensation control, and outdoor airflow studies.
• Serve as the technical authority for CFD methodologies, modeling assumptions, simulation quality, and interpretation of results.
• Lead technical reviews and provide QA/QC oversight for CFD studies completed by other analysts.
• Develop and implement CFD standards, best practices, workflows, and documentation to improve consistency and modeling efficiency.

Project Delivery

• Manage multiple CFD studies simultaneously while maintaining high quality and meeting project schedules and client commitments.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, architectural, structural, and project management teams throughout project delivery.
• Provide technical direction during project kickoff meetings and critical design milestones.
• Support project managers in defining CFD scope, schedules, resource requirements, and technical deliverables.

Innovation and Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through automation, scripting, template development, and workflow optimization.
• Lead development of internally developed CFD tools and software enhancements.
• Evaluate emerging CFD technologies, software platforms, and industry research to expand organizational capabilities.
• Champion the integration of digital engineering, AI-assisted workflows, and advanced analytics into CFD processes.

Mentorship and Team Development

• Mentor and train junior CFD analysts through technical guidance, coaching, and project support.
• Assist in developing onboarding materials, technical training programs, and CFD knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous learning across the analytics team.

Client Engagement and Business Development

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients by communicating complex engineering concepts in a clear and actionable manner.
• Lead client presentations, technical workshops, and CFD results reviews.
• Support proposal development, technical pursuits, and strategic client engagements.
• Help identify opportunities to expand CFD and analytics services across existing and new client relationships.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience applying Computational Fluid Dynamics in building systems, mission critical facilities, thermal management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in: 
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Thermodynamics
  • Heat Transfer
  • Building Mechanical Systems
  • Airflow and Thermal Modeling
• Proven ability to independently lead complex engineering analyses and deliver high-quality results.
• Experience reviewing technical work and providing guidance to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting technical findings to clients and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more CFD platforms including: 
  • STAR-CCM+
  • Fluent
  • OpenFOAM
  • FDS
  • RealityDC 
• Experience developing custom models and User Defined Functions (UDFs).
• Proficiency with programming and automation tools including: 
  • Python
  • C++
  • Java
• Experience leading technical teams, mentoring staff, or managing a team of technical experts in a corporate environment.
• Experience supporting mission critical, data center, industrial, or large-scale commercial projects.
• Demonstrated understanding and incorporation of good business practices including KPIs, lessons learned and evolving corporate goals.