Background in computational fluid dynamics or related scientific computing fields
Knowledge of GPU computing on NVIDIA HPC architectures (eg A100, GH200)
Experience with octree data structures and Cartesian AMR algorithms
Experience working in diverse computing environments from workstations to HPC systems
Knowledge and experience with ray tracing libraries (OptiX, OWL, Embree, etc.) for immersed boundary geometry queries
Knowledge of FEM structural dynamics for fluid-structure interaction simulations
Experience with performance portability layers
Experience with non-NVIDIA GPU accelerators (AMD, Intel, etc.)
Familiarity with cross-platform GPU development
Familiarity with low-dissipation numerics for computational fluid dynamics
Experience with multi-phase or multi-physics simulations
Background in aerospace applications, particularly: Launch environment modeling
Parachute/entry system dynamics
Aerodynamic simulations of aircraft
Project Context
The successful candidate will join NASA's LAVA team as a contractor, working on software that has been applied to mission-critical problems including:
Launch environment simulations for the Artemis program
Entry system modeling, particularly parachute decelerator dynamics using FSI
Scale-resolving Wall-Modeled Large Eddy Simulation for aeronautical applications
Salary range: $125k-$165k DOE
AMA
Benefits
Dental insuranceVision insurance401(k)Paid time off
Additional Information
Job Description:
Position Overview
Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is seeking a skilled and experienced GPU Computing specialist to support the Launch Ascent and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) team within the Computational Aerosciences Branch (TNA) at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) under the Aircraft Systems and Speceflight Engineering Support Servies (ASSESS) contract. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing GPU acceleration, performance optimization, and feature development of the LAVA CFD solver suite - a high-performance computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver framework used in mission-critical aerospace simulations.
Primary Responsibilities
Contribute to GPU optimization efforts for the LAVA Cartesian solver, focusing on MPI/C++/CUDA implementation
Support enhancement of Wall-Modeled Large Eddy Simulation (WMLES) capabilities
Implement and optimize new features for the adaptive mesh refinement framework
Assist with hybrid parallelization strategies using MPI, CUDA, and OpenMP
Help identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in computational workflows
Create comprehensive technical documentation for code modifications and new features
Assist users with software issues as we release the LAVA code to the broader community
Collaborate with multidisciplinary scientific teams to address complex aerospace CFD problems
Support simulation deployment across various computing environments, from workstations to supercomputers
Required Qualifications
Advanced degree in Computational Sciences or related field
Experience with CUDA programming and GPU architecture optimization
Knowledge of detailed CUDA optimization techniques (occupancy, registers, memory layout, etc.), and profilers (ncu and nsys)
Strong C++ programming skills with experience in performance-critical applications
Working knowledge of MPI and OpenMP parallel programming models
Demonstrated ability to optimize scientific computing applications
Candidates must have current U.S. work authorization. While preference is given to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, we also welcome applications from individuals holding valid U.S. work visas (such as OPT, CPT, or other permissible categories).
Amainc · Mountain View, CA