Aerodynamics CFD Engineer

About HCC/CCI

Henry Crown & Company/CC Industries is a Chicago-based, privately-held company that manages business, philanthropic, and family interests on behalf of a multi-generational family. The business ventures fall into broadly-defined categories: wholly-owned operating companies, public and private equity investments, and real estate. The enterprise also supports individual and collective giving through Crown Family Philanthropies and provides traditional family office services across generations. The enterprise employs approximately 350 professionals in the areas of investment management, corporate development, financial operations, tax, research and innovation, human resources, information technologies, and legal.

Why work for us?

We are a private enterprise with more than a 100-year legacy and track record of financial success, supporting our communities, and taking care of our employees.  We plan strategically with a long-term time horizon and an integrated approach to access superior opportunities and optimize financial results.  Integrity, collaboration, and dedication are cornerstones of our workplace culture that create rewarding professional experiences.

Position Description

At CCI, team members are integral to the Research & Innovation Center, contributing to a dynamic environment of diverse projects while collaborating with colleagues across CCI companies, Virginia Tech, suppliers, and other research centers. Our mission is to create value for partners through applied knowledge that drives new product development and more efficient processes. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation Engineer will focus on aerodynamics for large structure external flows and low-viscosity internal applications. The ideal candidate will have expertise in CFD, vehicle aerodynamics, and regulatory processes, particularly CARB (California Air Resources Board) verification and reporting. This role is critical for running simulations, interpreting results to guide design, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Responsibilities:

• Collaboration: Work closely with product development, regulatory, and testing teams to
  ensure seamless integration of aerodynamics into vehicle design and testing processes.
• Test Results: Conduct tests and simulations, interpret results, and prepare comprehensive
  reports for internal teams and regulatory bodies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Utilize knowledge of CARB regulations to guide design decisions,
  ensuring compliance with emission and aerodynamic standards.
• Excels at problem definition; able to work effectively with open ended or ambiguous problem
  statements and/or applications and be comfortable in adapting strategies according to results.
• Proven ability to interpret and present CFD simulation results clearly and concisely to both technical
  and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of the group through mentorship.
• An effective steward of project budgets and schedules. Project Management and Capex purchasing
  experience a plus.
• Establish and maintain a network within the partnering companies and collaborative partners.
   

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related field
  (Master’s preferred Aeronautical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering).
• Knowledge of CFD laminar and turbulent fluid tools (ANSYS Fluent, Star-CCM+, etc.), 3D CAD
  (SolidWorks), Analysis (MATLAB). Knowledge of CARB regulations & verification.
• 3+ years utilizing commercial CFD software simulating turbulent flows and
  characterizing aerodynamic effects. Experimental methods experience a plus.
• Modeling Strategies: Applying simplifying assumptions and conducting scaling calculations to
  guide modeling methods and expectations.
• CFD Simulations: Run detailed simulations to analyze and optimize the aerodynamic
  performance of large-scale structures, improving fuel efficiency, stability, and overall design.
• Aerodynamic Design: Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to apply aerodynamic
  principles in the development of large structure external flows and other fluid flow
  applications.
• Approaches work with a collaborative, team first mentality; proactive, positive with a can-do
  attitude.
• Experience with verification testing (i.e. CARB) and aerodynamic optimization in the context of heavy-duty
  vehicles or commercial transportation is a plus.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.

The Starting Salary Range: $103k - $116k. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. To see an overview of all our benefits please go to our career portal here.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals experiencing disability and BIPOC are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At CC Industries we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.