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Fluid Dynamicist

Panthalassa· Engineering
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Hybrid (Portland, OR)$115k - $175kFull-timePosted 3mo ago

About the role

Fluid Dynamicist role focused on developing and applying fast-running, physics-based hydrodynamics tools to support design, optimization, and fleet deployment for a renewable energy/ocean technology company. Independent ownership of modeling and simulation workstreams with collaboration across CFD, controls, optimization, mechanical, metocean, and fleet performance teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop, maintain, validate, and apply fast-running hydrodynamics models used for design, optimization, controls, and fleet deployment analysis.
  • Work with boundary element method models, reduced-order hydrodynamic models, fleet deployment simulators, and OrcaFlex models.
  • Develop Python engineering tools to interface with modeling codes written in Julia and Python.
  • Build and maintain external-function links, data interfaces, and workflow glue between hydrodynamics models, simulation tools, optimization pipelines, and analysis scripts.
  • Run analyses using metocean reanalysis data, measured ocean data, sea-state statistics, wave spectra, current profiles, and other environmental inputs.
  • Process, visualize, and interpret simulation results to evaluate power, propulsion, structural loading, motion, operability, survivability, and other performance metrics.
  • Compare fast-running model outputs against CFD, experimental data, sea-trial data, OrcaFlex results, and higher-fidelity simulations.
  • Identify and debug issues in hydrodynamic models, simulation workflows, input datasets, post-processing scripts, and coupled simulation interfaces.
  • Collaborate within the CFD team to understand where high-fidelity results can improve reduced-order models and where reduced-order tools can guide CFD validation priorities.
  • Collaborate with optimization and controls teams to ensure that fast-running tools are accurate, robust, and useful for design-space exploration and operational decision-making.
  • Develop new analysis methods and identify additional uses for fast-running simulation tools across the company.
  • Write clear documentation, technical notes, plots, and presentations that communicate methods, assumptions, results, limitations, and recommendations.
  • Use modern software and AI-assisted development tools effectively to accelerate coding, debugging, analysis, and documentation while maintaining strong engineering judgment and code review discipline.

Qualifications

  • Legal authorization to work in the United States.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar field.
  • Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, marine hydrodynamics, waves, rigid body dynamics, and physics-based modeling.
  • Strong proficiency in Python for scientific computing, engineering analysis, data processing, and tool development.
  • Understanding of boundary element method concepts and their application to marine hydrodynamics.
  • Ability to run simulations, process results, identify anomalies, debug issues, and communicate findings clearly.
  • Experience with numerical modeling, reduced-order modeling, simulation tool development, or scientific software development.
  • Working knowledge of Linux environments, Git-based workflows, and engineering software development practices.
  • Ability to collaborate with CFD, controls, mechanical, software, metocean, and test teams to resolve modeling and simulation issues.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong first-principles engineering judgment and the ability to understand model assumptions, limitations, and appropriate use cases.

Skills

Required:Python (scientific computing)Boundary Element Method (BEM)
Nice to have:JuliaOrcaFlex

Benefits

  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (100% company-paid gold level PPO for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (100% company-paid for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (100% company-paid for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (company-paid policy for long-term disability)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), health FSA, dependent care FSA)
  • Relocation assistance to Portland (if needed)
Last updated Sep 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Panthalassa

Go where the energy is

We're harnessing renewable energy in the open ocean and delivering it around the world. Engineered in Portland, Oregon.

Planetary-scale energyclean energy platformrenewable energyocean energypilot deploymentpublic-benefit corporation
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