Research Engineer - Combustion

Job Description Summary As a Research Engineer Combustion you will collaboratively execute combustion heat transfer and thermal management technology research & development programs for GE Vernova businesses. You will interact with personnel at Vernova Advanced Research & GE Vernova to develop and deliver novel combustion technologies for the Energy Transition. This is a high impact and high visible role with tight deadlines requiring extremely quick turn-around times often needing to work with limited inputs/data and huge opportunities for creativity and innovation.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

- Apply your knowledge in heat transfer combustion thermal management and process modeling to develop innovative aerothermal/mechanical solutions for GE Vernova product portfolio

• Apply your knowledge in combustion aerodynamics and heat transfer to develop innovative aerothermodynamic solutions for combustion
• Responsible for advanced modeling and simulation for combustion aerothermodynamics including high-fidelity CFD analyses with opportunities for in-house code development
• Develop ideas and concepts and mature technologies through various readiness levels (TRL) to improve combustor aerothermal performance

- Develop ideas and concepts and mature technologies through various readiness levels (TRL) for Hydrogen Combustion in Gas Turbines and Aeroderivatives

- Deliver on technical projects meeting schedules and budgets implement plans with minimal guidance to meet technical requirements and document results
- Participate in a team on multi-generation technology programs to enable future design advancements while independently executing tasks leveraging your technical skills
- Network and collaborate with Gas Power Renewables and Advanced Research team members to identify opportunities for innovation build plans and execute on technical projects

• Interpret the results of the analysis and provide meaningful insights to the global teams
• Document thoroughly the project work
• Participate in technical reviews and ideation sessions
• Be current on the state-of-the-art on the analytical and numerical modeling and limitations of the techniques
• Do literature survey synthesize the findings and provide recommendations for the way forward.

Required Qualifications

- Ph. D in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering specializing in Combustion with at least 1 year of experience in industrial research or post-doctoral research OR M. S in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering specializing in Combustion with at least 4 years of experience in industrial research
- Demonstrated fundamental knowledge in computational heat transfer / thermal management combustion and process modeling evidenced by advanced graduate coursework and research

• Fundamental knowledge in thermodynamics and process modeling

• Demonstrated fundamental knowledge in gas turbine combustion evidenced by advanced graduate coursework and research
• Demonstrated ability and experience in Combustion Modeling Simulation & Analysis (expertise in two or more of the following: LES fast chemistry combustion kinetics flamelet generation manifolds thickened flames flame holding/flame speed/flashback mechanisms) Turbulent Combustion Modeling
• Experience with commercial software (FLUENT CFX) or in-house code development; especially handling large datasets and associated post-processing to provide physics-based insights to guide design

- Demonstrated ability and experience in thermal and flow Modeling Simulation & Analysis
- Experience with commercial software (FLUENT CharLES) or in-house code development

• Solid understanding of high performance computing processes
• Deep understanding of Hydrogen Combustion and Emissions in Combustors of Gas Turbines and Aero-derivatives
• Solid understanding of phenomena in gas turbine combustion namely instability acoustics flashback and flameholding and modeling for the same
• Sound knowledge of Gas Turbine Thermodynamics and Power Plant Products and Processes

- Excellent oral and written communication skills

- Design experience in combustion heat transfer and thermal management at various levels of fidelity

- Advanced computational or experimental skills from u201Cstart-to-finishu201D to provide physics-based insights to guide design and innovation

Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new unfamiliar technology areas and to abstract system level concepts

• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in a team environment as u201CONE TEAMu201D
• Demonstrated initiative accountability and ownership of assigned tasks.
• Curiosity and appreciation for role of inter-disciplinary technologies in the product development and the overall u201CBig Pictureu201D
• Understanding of Energy Transition Space and technologies/solutions to navigate the transition
• Solid understanding of Technology Readiness Levels and Technical Competitive Assessment
• Demonstrated Creativity and Problem Solving Abilities.
• Solid understanding of energy transition and decarbonization
• Passion towards Innovation Emerging Technologies IP Landscape White Space identification and Patents
• Understanding of Energy Transition Space and technologies/solutions to navigate the transition

Desired Characteristics

• Experience in Gas Turbine Turbomachinery Heat Transfer Combustion Testing
• Experience in detailed performance modeling of turbomachinery and components and sub-components
• Experience in performing design trade-off studies and design optimization
• Exposure to prototype/ engine Tests experience with data mining/processing and building models
• Ability to automate the processes for improved productivity
• Hands-on working on Python or Matlab
• Experience of using High Performance Computing for advanced and complex analysis.
• Conversant with Machine Learning applications that leverage data from Combustion tests and modelling;
• Conversant with Surrogate/Reduced Order Modelling concepts with applications to Gas Turbine Models.

Additional Information