Research Engineer

Summary

Join Phaidra, a company building AI-powered control systems for industrial automation, as a Research Engineer specializing in physics-based simulators. You will design and implement simulation models for thermodynamic and fluid systems, translate governing equations into numerical code, and collaborate with AI researchers. Your work will involve validating simulators against real-world data, contributing to Phaidra's simulation platform, and documenting technical ideas. This role requires experience in research or applied engineering, a relevant degree, and strong understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Phaidra is a 100% remote company with a global team, offering competitive compensation, equity, and benefits including unlimited paid time off and parental leave. The ideal candidate will be located in the UK, USA, or Canada.

Requirements

• 1+ years of experience in research or applied engineering
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics and HVAC systems
• Experience building simulation tools using numerical methods (e.g., finite difference, ODE/PDE solvers)
• Proficiency in Python and scientific computing libraries (e.g., NumPy, SciPy, SymPy, pandas)
• Familiarity with simulation or modeling frameworks (e.g., Modelica, OpenFOAM, COMSOL, EnergyPlus, or custom-built tools)
• Comfortable reading academic papers and implementing physics models from scratch
• Share our company values: Collaboration, Transparency, Operational Excellence, Ownership, and Empathy

Responsibilities

• Design and implement physics-based simulation models for thermodynamic and fluid systems
• Translate governing equations and first-principles models into performant numerical code
• Collaborate with AI researchers to integrate simulators with reinforcement learning agents and optimization pipelines
• Validate simulators against real-world data and iterate to improve fidelity and stability
• Be a power user and contributor to Phaidra’s simulation and AI platform, enabling scalable, reusable experimentation
• Document and communicate technical ideas clearly across teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of controls and optimization techniques (e.g., PID, MPC, or RL)
• Experience integrating simulation tools with machine learning workflows
• Experience working with large-scale systems or infrastructure in energy, HVAC, or industrial automation
• Familiarity with modern software engineering practices (Docker, Git, CI/CD)

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (exact benefits vary by region)
• Unlimited paid time off, with a minimum of 20 days off per year requirement
• Paid parental leave (exact benefits vary by region)
• Home office setup allowance, coworking space stipend, and company MacBook