Principal Design and Simulation Engineer

The role

You will lead structural, thermal, and fluid simulations for industrial machinery and equipment. You will use FEA and CFD to validate designs and translate results into practical improvements.

What you will do

• Lead structural, thermal, and fluid simulations (FEA/CFD) for industrial machinery and equipment projects.
• Perform and validate simulations using SolidWorks Simulation, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Ansys, and Ansys Fluent.
• Partner with mechanical design engineers to define simulation requirements, boundary conditions, meshing strategies, and CAD model preparation.
• Evaluate mechanical systems, including structural weldments, piping, pressure vessels, rotating equipment, and automated machinery.
• Translate simulation results into practical recommendations that improve equipment safety, reliability, and performance.
• Develop simulation standards, validation methods, and best practices to improve analysis accuracy and consistency.
• Review and approve engineering calculations, simulation reports, and technical documentation.
• Mentor engineers, share technical knowledge, and guide project teams in applying simulation insights to design decisions.
• Collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams to develop solutions, communicate findings, and support project execution.
• Contribute to project estimates, proposals, technical reviews, field assessments, and commissioning activities.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering discipline.
• 10–15 years of relevant experience in industrial machinery, manufacturing, or capital equipment engineering, including significant FEA/CFD experience.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, including Simulation/FEA and Flow Simulation, with experience using Ansys and Ansys Fluent.
• Strong understanding of simulation techniques, including meshing, boundary conditions, material properties, convergence, and validation.
• Ability to collaborate with mechanical design engineers to prepare simulation-ready CAD models and improve designs.
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, fabrication methods, and industry codes such as ASME, API, and NFPA.
• Experience defining technical requirements, estimating engineering costs, and supporting project delivery.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to safe engineering practices and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work on-site in Rochester and/or Rush, NY, with travel as needed (typically less than 25%).

Nice to have

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with automated machinery, robotics, precision motion systems, web handling, piping, pressure vessels, or related mechanical systems.
• Experience validating simulation results through physical testing.
• Knowledge of fatigue analysis, vibration analysis, topology optimization, or thermal-fluid analysis.
• Familiarity with advanced SolidWorks tools, AutoCAD, Creo/ProE, or similar software.
• Experience with ISO 9001, Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement practices.

Benefits

• Annual incentive compensation
• Long-term incentives
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement
• Paid time off
• Every employee of Re:Build will share ownership in the company

About the company

Re:Build is an advanced, end-to-end manufacturing platform that partners with industrial companies and innovators. Re:Build Optimation specializes in delivering custom-engineered process equipment and automated systems to clients across the globe.