What are the responsibilities and job description for the Propulsion/Combustion Scientist II position at Specter Aerospace?
Propulsion/Combustion Scientist II
Job Summary:
Specter Aerospace is seeking a Propulsion Scientist to assist in the development and characterization of advanced propulsion and combustion systems. A successful candidate will have experience in airbreathing propulsion, design of experiments, and data analysis. They will have the opportunity to conduct fundamental study of novel high-efficiency propulsion cycles, systems, and fuels to power Specter’s array of airbreathing supersonic and hypersonic vehicles.
About Specter Aerospace:
Specter Aerospace is building the next generation of hypersonic vehicles for defense and commercial applications. Specter is headquartered in Peabody, MA, just north of Boston, where it leverages its advanced propulsion technologies, manufacturing, and testing capabilities to rapidly develop supersonic and hypersonic systems. Funded by a mix of government R&D organizations, commercial customers, and private funding, Specter is a growing aerospace and defense startup. Close relationships with MIT, Notre Dame, AFRL, NRL, ANL, and other research organizations provide access to cutting-edge developments, facilities, and personnel. Specter is expanding its team in preparation for flight testing and full-scale production.
Role & Responsibilities:
· Lead fundamental research into advanced airbreathing propulsion and combustion concepts, including alternative fuels, plasma-assisted combustion, and combined cycles
· Design experiments to efficiently collect fundamental and applied performance data, conduct data analysis, and connect data to numerical and analytic models
· Document research and create presentation and deliverable materials for research and development sponsors
· Help develop propulsion test matrix to efficiently gain performance information to characterize engines, flameholders, fuels, and other systems under test
· Work with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and test engineers to efficiently create and test novel propulsion and combustion devices
· Conduct detailed design and analysis of scramjet and ramjet engine components as required
· Take part in technical meetings, engage in technical discussions, and contribute perspectives
· Other duties as assigned by the company
Job Requirements:
· PhD in Aerospace Engineering or a related field
· 2 years of relevant experience
· Experience with numerical methods and reduced order model design
· Previous propulsion experience (design or test) and relevant research and publications
· Expericence with design of experiments and data analysis for combustion systems
· Strong understanding of compressible flow, combustion, and mechanical design
· Familiarity with relevant programming languages such as Python, C , and Matlab
· Comfort with project autonomy and fast-paced work environments
· Strong collaborative skills and a drive to produce quality work
· Available for up to 10% travel for test activities
· Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)
*All new employees must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check
Desired Skills:
· CAD Experience (Solidworks)
· CFD and FEA experience with relevant tools (StarCCM, CFD , Vulcan, Simsolid, NASTRAN)
· Intuition for propulsion system performance, manufacturable geometries, and flow behaviour
· Experience with fluid system controls and sensors
· Experience with optical diagnostic methods for combustion systems
· Previous professional OR student team (FSAE, SEDS, AIAA, etc) project experience directly relevant to the requirements for this position
More About Specter Aero:
• https://specteraerospace.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/specteraerospace/mycompany/
• https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/specter-aerospace-reveals-plasma-ignited-hypersonic-missile
• https://www.kairosventures.com/specter-aerospace/
