The main missions of the OptiFluides team are those of a CFD engineer. In order to better understand these missions and how the company operates, we’re taking a look today at the job of CFD engineer, as we see it at OptiFluides.
What is the role of the CFD engineer in industry?
The dominant role played by fluid movements in industry calls for specialized engineers to address these issues. The CFD engineer is first and foremost a fluid mechanist. They rely on solid knowledge of numerical methods, fluid mechanics, physics, applied mathematics and computer programming. He/she develops and implements calculation codes, enabling numerical modeling of fluid flow and associated exchanges (mass, chemical, thermal) in a system or product. Once these models have been validated, they offer a wide range of possibilities:
- visualization of fluid movements,
- analysis of the product or system in operation,
- quantification of efficiency, physical exchanges within the system (chemical species, mass, heat, etc.),
- identification of areas for optimization,
- simulations of proposed optimizations.
CFD engineers play a central role in the technological development of a product, whenever physico-chemical exchanges are involved. The diversity of the issues involved enables them to contribute to projects in a wide range of sectors: transport, energy, chemicals, hydraulics, etc.
What are the responsibilities of a CFD engineer?
The tasks of a CFD engineer can vary greatly, depending on the company in which he or she works. We will therefore focus on presenting the missions of our team at OptiFluides. As an engineering consultancy specializing in Fluid Mechanics, we address the technical issues related to fluid flows raised by our industrial customers, mainly through modeling, but also by carrying out experimental measurements.
CFD engineers are responsible for leading and executing Fluid Mechanics projects and studies for our customers:
- Mesh creation using industry-standard software: simplification and correction of CAD, construction of the fluid domain, creation of a mesh adapted to the flow to be solved (choice of mesh type, zones to be refined, mesh sizes, mesh convergence, etc.),
- Simulations: choice of suitable physics and models, boundary conditions, launch of calculations, analysis of results, drafting of deliverables,
- Customer interface: project follow-up and delivery meetings, compliance with deadlines and contractual requirements, informal exchanges…
- Development of models and calculation codes.
Additional tasks may also be carried out, depending on individual skills:
- On the commercial side: sales and pre-project phases, with analysis of customer needs and drafting of quotations, or participation in trade shows and forums.
- Technical: experimental measurement campaigns, on-site technical audits.
- On the IT side: participation in the IT management of the HPC cluster, the supercomputer essential for carrying out studies.
Career prospects mainly involve taking up managerial or technical sales positions.
What skills does a CFD engineer have?
Trained as a generalist engineer, or as one specialized in Mechanics or Fluid Mechanics, generally supplemented by a PhD in the field, the CFD engineer has solid knowledge of numerical methods and fluid mechanics. A robust scientific base is essential for understanding the various industrial problems and contributing to their resolution. Mastery of meshing and calculation software is essential.
Qualities such as a taste for teamwork, rigor, technical curiosity, autonomy, the ability to synthesize, adaptability (in the broadest sense: working methods, tools, and in commercial relations) and organizational skills are essential to flourish in the CFD engineer’s profession.
How much does a CFD engineer earn?
There is no salary scale for CFD engineers at OptiFluides. Salary therefore depends on skills and experience. For an engineer coming out of school, an order of magnitude of 40,000 euros per year can be given. It will obviously be higher for a doctor or an experienced profile. Salaries rise with experience and the company’s development.