2026 PhD Graduate - Aerospace & Thermal Engineering

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

74d • $102,500 - $227,500

About The Position

Are you ready to put your aerospace & thermal engineering skills to work solving critical challenges related to the defense of our nation and our service members? Are you passionate about thermal/aerothermal and aerodynamic design for rocket motor systems, including hypersonic flight and advanced propulsion? If so, then you are exactly the type of candidate we are looking for! We are seeking highly motivated teammates to join our dynamic group of engineers and scientists. As part of our multidisciplinary team you will work in a highly collaborative and engaging environment. We are currently looking for candidates to join the Aerospace & Thermal Engineering group that have expertise in: Aerodynamics, aeroacoustics & computational fluid dynamics; Wind tunnel testing; in-silo, restrained fire, and flight testing of rocket motors; Reacting multi-phase flows, non-equilibrium flows & fluid/structure interactions; Combustion, thermochemistry, ablation & surface chemistry; Thermal & aerothermal analysis, design and test; Multi-waveband sensor modeling & scene generation; Software architecture, GPU computing & physics-based algorithm development. Our engineers and scientists collaborate closely to find solutions for challenging thermal environments such as in-silo rocket launch, thermal protection systems for hypersonic speeds, and turbulent combustion in detonation engines. At the opposite extreme, we have worked on spacecraft, lunar infrastructure, and systems deployed in Antarctica. All of these environments create challenges not only in thermal and aerodynamic design and testing, but also in predictive modeling. Our computational physicists, software architects and high performance computing experts are continually evolving state-of-the-art modeling and simulation capabilities to guide design, prototype development and testing of kinetic weapons systems. They are at the cutting edge of scene and signature generation in simulating performance of the infrared, optical and radio frequency sensors that detect such systems. Our sponsors mandate us to solve today's problems with the best methods available today, but we strive to also look forward - to anticipate new engineering challenges and new opportunities. Our group sustains an energetic community of innovators. Current efforts include work in rotating detonation engine technology development, new thermal protection system materials, electric propulsion for space applications, and spatiotemporal methods for GPU-based modeling of turbulent combustion and hypersonic boundary layers. We collaborate with other groups across the lab in nearly all we do, and regularly work with subject matter experts in external academic and defense communities - to consult, to employ state-of-the-art testing capabilities and to partner in developing new hardware technologies and software methodologies.

Requirements

• Have a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Chemistry or a related field.
• Are an expert in one of the following areas: aerodynamics and fluid analysis, thermal/fluid modeling, heat transfer, thermochemistry, combustion, hypersonic thermal design, infrared scenes, signatures and related software development.
• Are a motivated self-starter with excellent communications skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance.

Benefits

• Generous benefits including a robust education assistance program
• Unparalleled retirement contributions
• Healthy work/life balance
• Comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees