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Senior Aero Performance Engineer
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Date Issued:
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February 2026
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Department:
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Technology
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Reports to:
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Director, R&D and NPI
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Location:
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Van Nuys, CA
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Position Purpose:
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The Senior Aero Performance Engineer plays a critical role in advancing Capstone Green Energy’s microturbine technology with knowledge in aerodynamics, turbomachinery, and thermodynamic performance. This position is responsible for modeling, testing, analyzing, and optimizing the aerodynamic and performance characteristics of Capstone’s microturbine systems, ensuring industry‑leading efficiency, reliability, and product innovation.
The successful candidate brings a blend of theoretical understanding and hands‑on engineering capability, applying aerothermodynamic principles to evaluate new turbine concepts, enhance existing products, and guide cross‑functional engineering decisions. This individual will work closely with Systems Engineering, Product Development, Test Engineering, and Operations to validate performance, resolve technical challenges, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Reporting to the Director of R&D and NPI, the Senior Aero Performance Engineer will serve as a subject matter expert in turbomachinery aerodynamics, performance prediction, and CFD analysis—supporting new product development, performance upgrades, customer inquiries, and future technology strategy.
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Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform aerodynamic and thermodynamic modeling of turbine components and integrated microturbine systems, including fluid flow, performance prediction, and cycle analysis.
- Execute and interpret performance testing, validation, and customer certification of Capstone microturbine systems.
- Develop test plans, procedures, and acceptance criteria to validate aerodynamic, thermal, and system‑level performance in support of product development and performance verification activities.
- Characterize, document, and extrapolate system performance to support product strategy, market positioning, and long‑range performance forecasting.
- Develop, test, and refine new aerodynamic concepts to support future product offerings and enhance existing microturbine platforms.
- Support cross‑functional engineering teams—including Mechanical Design, Systems Engineering, Controls, and Test Engineering—by providing expert analysis on aerodynamic, thermal, and CFD‑related issues.
- Collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams by providing performance data, customer application insights, and feasibility studies for new product opportunities.
- Support Operations and Production Engineering to ensure manufacturability, quality, and on‑time delivery for performance‑critical hardware.
- Lead or contribute to engineering failure analysis activities for returned or field‑observed issues to determine root cause and recommend corrective actions.
- Provide technical guidance and performance oversight during development and validation testing activities.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering tools, modeling methodologies, validation processes, and product development workflows.
- Present project status, technical findings, and performance assessments during weekly team meetings and cross‑functional reviews.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Skills and Abilities Required
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Aerodynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (with an aerothermodynamics focus), or a closely related field is required.
- Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in gas turbines, turbomachinery, or high‑speed rotating machinery.
- Familiarity with turbomachinery aerodynamics, including performance prediction and component‑level analysis.
- Demonstrated capability to model and analyze aerodynamic and thermodynamic systems, including turbines, rotating machinery, and turbomachinery components.
- Understanding fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and performance methodologies related to gas turbine systems.
- Ability to coordinate, prioritize, and organize multiple technical tasks in a fast‑paced development environment.
- Practical mechanical aptitude and hands‑on fabrication or testing skills to support prototype evaluation and performance investigations.
- Ability to interpret CFD results, performance data, and test outputs to inform engineering decisions and product improvements.
- Written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical findings to both engineering and non‑technical audiences.
- Analytical mindset, attention to detail, and a structured, methodical approach to solving complex engineering problems.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Applicants must be legally authorized for employment in the United States without the need for current or future employer‑sponsored work authorization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with centrifugal turbomachinery aerodynamics, including compressor or turbine stage design and analysis.
- Experience using CFD software (in particular ANSYS CFX) and related techniques to simulate complex fluid flows; experience with turbomachinery‑specific CFD.
- Programming or scripting experience in languages such as MATLAB, Python, Fortran, C, or VBA is desirable.
- Experience applying CAD tools for design evaluation or collaboration with mechanical design teams.
- Background in high‑speed rotating machinery, microturbines, or small gas turbine systems.
- Understanding of gas turbine combustion processes is desirable.
- Good organizational skills, capable of working independently with minimal supervision as well as on collaborative, cross‑functional engineering teams.
- Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a commitment to high‑quality technical execution.
Work Environment
- This position is based on‑site at our Van Nuys, CA facility.
- Work is performed in a combination of office, laboratory, and test‑facility environments.
- Role requires extended periods of computer‑based modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
- Occasional hands‑on work in test areas or manufacturing settings may be required to support performance evaluations and engineering investigations.
- The position may require work beyond a standard 8‑hour day, including limited evenings or weekends, to support critical testing, development milestones, or operational needs.
The salary range for this position is $135,000 – $180,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and qualifications. This position is also eligible for company benefits consistent with applicable policies.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
All duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities that the incumbent(s) must possess to successfully perform each duty proficiently.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Capstone Green Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or disability.
