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PACCAR
Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer (GR 31)
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What they do
A Thermal Engineer specializes in in thermodynamics used in the fields of heat transfers and energy conversion.
$119,053 / year median in Washington
+10% projected growth
Job Description
Senior/Lead Thermal CFD Simulation Engineer (GR 31) PACCAR paid time off, paid holidays, sick time, tuition reimbursement, 401(k) United States, Washington, Mount Vernon Jul 23, 2026 Requisition Summary The PACCAR Technical Center is seeking an experienced Thermal and CFD Engineer for aftertreatment, exhaust, and underbody thermal managementto drive innovation in heavy-duty truck development. In this role, you'll partner directly with Kenworth and Peterbilt engineering teams to predict design viability, validate concepts through simulation-to-test correlation, and translate complex technical findings into actionable recommendations. Company Information PACCAR is a Fortune 500 company established in 1905. PACCAR Inc is recognized as a global leader in the commercial vehicle, financial, and customer service fields with internationally recognized brands such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines andalso provides customized financial services, information technology and truck parts related to its principal business. Whether you want to design the transportation technology of tomorrow, support the staff functions of a dynamic, international leader, or build our excellent products and services - you can develop the career you desire with PACCAR. Get started! Job Functions / Responsibilities
Perform 3D thermal and CFD analysis for exhaust and aftertreatment systems
Predict heat loss, pressure drop, underhood and underbody temperatures, under various load cases
Evaluate DEF system thermal behavior, including doser, hoses, tank interfaces, and filling-related CFD needs
Develop design recommendations on:
insulation strategy
heat shields
component clearances
exhaust routing geometry
bracket/structure thermal protection
thermal zone definition
Support concept-phase architecture studies, DFMEA inputs, and comparative A/B trade studies
Conduct quick-turn sensitivity studies and simulation reruns to support design reviews
Correlate simulation with test/validation data and help build a reusable simulation-to-validation knowledge base
Develop simulation methodologies for underhood and underbody simulations
Create engineering guidelines and best practices for clearance, shielding, and thermal protection
Work cross-functionally with packaging, reliability, validation, plant support, and warranty teams
Qualifications
7+ years of engineering experience
5+ years of CFD & Thermal Analysis experience
Experience in industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics cooling, HVAC, battery thermal management, or other relevant industries
Comprehension of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and numerical methods
Expertise in CFD modeling, including meshing, solver setup, boundary conditions, and post-processing
Skilled in CFD/thermal tools such as STAR-CCM+, Fluent, TAITherm
Experience with CAD tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and technical reporting skills
Effective communication and teamwork skills for working with design, testing, and manufacturing teams
Education Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, MS or PhD preferred. Paccar Benefits As a