Gas Turbine Research Engineer

Battelle•Morgantown, WV

1d•$81,600 - $116,300•Onsite

About The Position

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency. We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply. We are currently seeking a Gas Turbine Research Engineer. This position is a full-time opportunity located in Pittsburgh, PA. In this role, you will join a multidisciplinary research team working to advance the development of low-NOx gas turbine combustion systems fueled by ammonia. You will also support R&D efforts to demonstrate and evaluate the use of non-thermal plasma (NTP) to enable and optimize ammonia combustion for industrial applications. This position is 100% on-site at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Research & Development facility in Pittsburgh, PA. The selected candidate will collaborate with engineers, scientists, technicians, subject matter experts, faculty members, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students across DOE national laboratories, U.S. government laboratories, universities, industry partners, and research organizations. The candidate will contribute to written reports, journal articles, and regular meetings to communicate research findings and innovations.

Requirements

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field
Proficiency in both modeling and experimental investigation of engines, combustors, gas turbines, and other energy-related systems
Direct experience with a variety of fuels, including methane (natural gas), ammonia, and hydrogen
Experience with nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) plasmas
Data processing and model development using MATLAB, Python, and/or C++
Understanding of safe laboratory practices, including handling of compressed gases, heat sources, high voltage, and toxic/flammable materials
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision as part of a multidisciplinary team interacting with individuals across a variety of disciplines
Proficient technical writer with a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications
Strong analytical, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to analyze and interpret research data, apply findings within the scope of project direction, and clearly report results
Ability to author and/or co-author reports, manuscripts, and articles suitable for peer-reviewed publication
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to balance competing and changing priorities
Ability to meet federal site access requirements for work at NETL facilities
Travel to the NETL R&D facility in Morgantown, WV is required approximately 3–4 times per month
Willing to Sponsor Candidate

Nice To Haves

Experience with high-pressure combustion systems
Experience with rich-quench-lean (RQL) combustor architectures
Experience with laser and optical diagnostics (e.g., optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy)
Understanding of chemical kinetics, including ignition and laminar burning velocity
Experience with commercial software including LabVIEW, ANSYS Fluent, ZDPlaskin, Bolsig+, and/or Massive OES
Active participation in conference and journal peer review, committees, or similar academic service

Responsibilities

Conduct experimental investigations and modeling to advance ammonia-fueled combustion and non-thermal plasma research.
Demonstrate flame stability and emissions performance with and without non-thermal plasma (NTP).
Generate data and validate models for ammonia and ammonia-blend fuels in fundamental and applied burner configurations.
Use advanced laser diagnostic techniques in both single- and two-stage burner configurations.
Validate plasma generation flame speed and species concentration profiles.
Test and characterize plasma generation in inert gases.
Characterize parameters such as laminar flame speed (by heat flux burner method), global emissions, and heat loss in a two-stage burner configuration.
Generate manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.