Associate or Senior Associate – Building Physics
London
We also offer an extensive benefits package, including private medical cover, an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, stock options, 25 days of annual leave (increasing with service), and flexible and hybrid working.
About the role
We’re hiring an Associate/Senior Associate to join our building‑physics team working on CFD, data‑centre thermal performance and whole‑building energy modelling. You will lead and deliver modelling studies, translate results into practical design and operational guidance, and help grow our technical capabilities and reproducible workflows across the team.
We are looking for an experienced, client‑facing engineer with hands‑on CFD and data‑centre modelling experience plus a strong grounding in building physics (heat transfer, ventilation/HVAC optimization, dispersion and wind‑microclimate analysis, and dynamic thermal modelling). You should be comfortable setting technical standards, leading projects, mentoring colleagues, and communicating results to clients and project teams. If you meet many of the criteria but not every bullet, we encourage you to apply.
Responsibilities
- Oversee production CFD across sectors (Residential, Science & Research, Workplace): set meshing and solver standards, enforce convergence and QA/QC practices, and recommend higher‑fidelity approaches (e.g., LES) where justified.
- Evaluate HVAC and ventilation strategies: model ventilation effectiveness and control strategies to improve thermal comfort, air distribution and energy performance.
- Execute dispersion and wind‑microclimate studies: contaminant transport and tracer‑gas approaches, pedestrian wind comfort/safety assessments (Lawson criteria, City of London guidance), and interaction with site plant.
- Integrate local CFD findings into whole‑building energy model.
- Build and maintain automation and parametric workflows (Python; Rhino + Grasshopper/Ladybug/Honeybee), creating reusable components and batch‑run pipelines for scenario studies.
- Define and implement model validation and uncertainty approaches: calibration, sensitivity analysis and reporting.
- Provide technical leadership: review deliverables, mentor junior staff, support proposals and client presentations, and ensure projects are delivered on scope, schedule and budget.
- A collaborative mindset, with the self‑awareness and openness to work effectively within multi‑disciplinary teams.
- Support timely invoicing, debt chasing, management of WIP and forward workload/resource planning for your own projects.
- Mentor and support our ‘next gen’ professionals including apprentices and graduates.
Qualifications
- BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Building Science, Thermal/Fluid Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, CFD or similar (or equivalent practical experience).
- Demonstrable CFD experience; data‑centre project experience is highly desirable.
- Hands‑on experience with two or more CFD platforms (e.g., ANSYS Fluent/CFX, OpenFOAM, Star‑CCM+, Cadence DC) and meshing tools.
- Practical experience in data‑centre thermal modelling (rack/room CFD, containment, transient resilience analyses).
- Experience into energy modelling tools like IES‑VE, TAS, EnergyPlus / OpenStudio).
- Automation skills: Python for scripting and data work; Rhino + Grasshopper and Ladybug/Honeybee for parametric workflows.
- Strong communication and client‑facing skills; experience writing technical proposals and presenting to clients.
- Ability to create clean, watertight geometry in Rhino, SpaceClaim or similar.
- Commercial awareness and accountability.
- A commitment to supporting the development of others.
- Roles in data centre consulting and close collaboration with MEP teams.
- Experience with LES and transient high‑fidelity studies for targeted investigations.
- Familiarity with 1D flow network modelling for liquid‑cooling strategies.
- Professional registration (CIBSE or equivalent) or progressing toward registration.
