Advanced Combustion Engineer  Full Time

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct fundamental research on advanced combustion concepts including rotating detonation engines (RDE), plasma-assisted combustion, plasma ignition, and hybrid combustion systems.Develop experimental test setups and conduct aero-thermal studies to characterize combustion behavior under relevant military propulsion conditions.
• Use high-fidelity CFD and chemical kinetics modeling (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, CONVERGE) to simulate combustion processes at low TRL stages.
• Investigate novel fuel combustion characteristics, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and nano-structured high energy density fuels, in terms of ignition, stability, emissions, and flame dynamics.
• Design and test advanced combustor configurations such as slinger and porous media combustors in collaboration with additive manufacturing specialists.
• Drive early-stage integration of thermal barrier coatings and other material technologies to enhance combustor durability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on aero-thermal design considerations impacting combustor performance and integration with hybrid propulsion systems.
• Translate fundamental insights into scalable combustion technologies for military propulsion applications.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Combustion Science, or related field with focus on low TRL technology development.
• Minimum of 4-7  years of experience, strong background in experimental combustion research, aero-thermal measurements, and diagnostic techniques.
• Proficiency with CFD and combustion simulation software including STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, CONVERGE, and HEEDS for design optimization.
• Experience with aero-thermal design principles and multidisciplinary integration.
• Ability to work in a research-driven environment with emphasis on innovation and technology maturation.
• Effective communication skills to report technical results and collaborate within R&D teams.