Senior Principal Gas Turbine Performance Engineer

1w1 week ago

Solar Turbines

San Diego, US · Full-time · $128,470 – $192,710

About this role

If you love the rigor of thermodynamics and the satisfaction of making models match reality—and you’re excited about using modern AI tools to amplify engineering impact—this role is built for you. You’ll sit at the crossroads of engine physics, product decisions, and real operating data, building performance models and software.

Turn data into engineering decisions by analyzing acceptance test and fleet/field datasets to trend performance and troubleshoot issues. Own high-stakes performance predictions by building, calibrating, and defending steady-state and transient models. Build tools engineers rely on across design, sales, and customer services.

The Gas Turbine Performance Group leads concept and advanced cycle studies and delivers calibrated performance predictions for new and upgraded engines. It oversees performance during development, supports production testing, and enables product support teams worldwide with analysis tools. Increasingly, transient cycle models form the foundation for AI-enabled digital twins.

Enjoy physics-first engineering with direct line-of-sight to real hardware and customer outcomes. Experience high leverage as models and tools scale across programs, teams, and global sites. Embrace a modern toolchain mindset where automation, reproducibility, and AI-assisted workflows are integral.

Requirements

B.S. / B.Eng. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or closely related field)
8+ years applying thermodynamics and performance engineering
Experience with gas turbine steady-state and transient performance modeling
Proficiency in analyzing test and field data for performance trending and troubleshooting
Knowledge of aeromechanical and operability behavior in gas turbines
Skills in building and calibrating physics-based performance models

Responsibilities

Analyze acceptance test and fleet/field datasets to trend performance, troubleshoot issues, and monitor aeromechanical/operability behavior across product lines
Build, calibrate, and defend steady-state and transient performance models for new products, upgrades, and investigations
Develop and maintain internal software used across design, sales/applications, customer services, overhaul, and customer sites
Apply modern AI techniques to speed up calibration and uncertainty exploration, enable anomaly detection and diagnostics, create reduced-order models grounded in physics, and support digital twin workflows
Collaborate across disciplines with design, controls, test, operations, and digital teams to solve urgent problems and build long-term capability
Lead concept and advanced cycle studies
Deliver calibrated performance predictions for new and upgraded engines

Benefits

Physics-first engineering with direct line-of-sight to real hardware and customer outcomes
High leverage: models and tools scale across programs, teams, and global sites
Modern toolchain mindset: automation, reproducibility, and AI-assisted workflows are part of the job