Computational Development and Applications Engineer

Our Civil Group offers an array of exciting career opportunities for the best IT, energy, logistics and engineering professionals.

Leidos is seeking a Computational Development and Applications Engineer in Morgantown, WV that will support collaborative research in modeling of energy technologies including pyrolysis, combustion and gasification. Current research initiatives include upgrading of biomass products for potential use as fuel, but other research will include coal-based and natural gas-based energy systems that involve both NETL (National Energy Technology Laboratory) and LRST research team members. Duties include the development and application of advanced modeling tools and techniques to design and optimize the performance of advanced energy systems based on biomass, coal, natural gas, and other fuels and technologies.

The work performed is primarily directed toward mathematical and computational modeling, as well as software development, as it relates to advanced energy systems. This work will emphasize application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to novel multiphase flow reactors and devices including circulating fluid beds, particle classifiers, catalytic reactors, and other advanced energy systems. Simulation will emphasize NETL’s MFiX modeling suite, which includes the Two-Fluid model, as well as the discrete element method (DEM), coarse-grained discrete element (CG-DEM) approach and Particle-in-Cell (PIC) approach.

The Computational Development and Applications Engineer will work closely with NETL multiphase flow modelers to assist them with detailed code application, development and validation. Work assignments will be in support of the NETL Computational Device Engineering Team and Multiphase Flow Science program in the RIC (CDE-RIC).

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Provide R&D technical support for the NETL multiphase flow sciences program.
• Conduct mathematical modeling of energy systems and actively participate in software development.
• Collaborate closely with multiphase flow science program members and create numerical /analytical /computational and mathematical studies of advanced energy conversion systems. Apply experimental data to model validation and improvement.
• Develop high fidelity analytical and computational models of steady state and dynamic flows in advanced energy conversion systems.
• Analyze experimental data from laboratory tests and published data from other authors.
• Present ideas and results to the research team.
• Contribute to future research planning and assist with proposals.
• Work independently and collaboratively with members of the research team to meet milestones and deliverables.
• Assist or lead efforts in writing research papers and creating conference presentations.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field with an emphasis in computational multiphase fluid dynamics research involving reacting multiphase fluid dynamics in gas-solids, gas-liquids, liquid-solids, three-phase reacting flows, numerical analysis, and mathematical modeling.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-3 years of postgraduate research and development experience in computational, mathematical and analytical model development relevant to fossil and/or biomass energy conversion and chemical process systems. Emphasis on computational multiphase flow with experience in development and application of Lagrangian and Two-Fluid Modeling approaches.
• Familiarity with upgrading of biomass pyrolysis gas through catalytic processes and computational modeling of these systems.
• Ability to develop and apply complex multiphase computational fluid dynamics codes to study multiphase systems, including fluid beds and other configurations important to energy conversion and chemical reactors. Experience using the NETL MFiX Software Suite to study these multiphase flow systems is highly valued.
• Experience in scientific code development and application with an emphasis on creating computational models to aid in the design, understanding and analysis of complex multiphase flow systems, including Discrete Element Methods, Two-Fluid Modeling, and Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow approaches.
• Familiarity with upgrading of biomass pyrolysis gas through catalytic processes and computational modeling of these systems is desired. Knowledge of bioreactor systems including simulation of reactor performance will be helpful.
• Experience in CFD modeling of chemical process reactors such as polymerization reactors is desired.
• Experience with CFD software including FLUENT, OpenFOAM, MFiX, and COMSOL as well as Parallel Programming with C/C++, Fortran, Large-scale simulations on High Performance Computing facilities will be useful. Experience in mesh generation (GAMBIT, ICEM-CFD), data collection and analysis (Tecplot, Paraview).

Driven by our talented workforce, the Integrated Missions Operation builds trust through an array of energy-related IT, environmental science and engineering solutions to meet our customers’ needs.

Key Programs and/or Capabilities:

• Antarctic Support Contract (ASC)

• Large Infrastructure

• Mission Support

• Digital Modernization

• Command & Control

• Mission Applications

• Science

• Energy and Environment

• Engineering Services

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We value and support the well-being and mobility of our employees with competitive benefit packages, complementary e-learning training, work-life flexibility, an exciting External Referral Program, and a diverse, inclusive and ethical work place. In fact, in 2020, Leidos was ranked as one of the “World's Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute for the third consecutive year.