Senior Combustion Engineer

Mach Industries•San Luis Obispo, CA

5d•$155,000 - $195,000

About The Position

The Combustion Engineer is responsible for the research, design, development, testing, and optimization of advanced combustion systems supporting air-breathing propulsion systems. This role applies expertise in combustion science, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer to evaluate combustion performance, improve efficiency, and enhance system reliability. The engineer collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to conduct experimental investigations, analyze complex thermal-fluid phenomena, validate combustion hardware, and support the development of next-generation propulsion technologies. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, experience with experimental testing and data analysis, and the ability to translate research findings into practical engineering solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
4+ years of experience in combustion research, propulsion systems, thermal-fluid sciences, or related engineering disciplines.
Strong understanding of, Combustion fundamentals, Fluid mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat transfer, Turbulent reacting flows, Gas turbine combustion
Experience designing and conducting combustion experiments.
Experience analyzing experimental combustion data and interpreting test results.
Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering analysis tools.
Experience with laboratory instrumentation, pressure measurements, temperature measurements, and high-speed data acquisition systems.
Experience using ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or other CFD software. Ability to correlate computational CAE predictions with experimental data.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Nice To Haves

Master's or Ph.D. preferred with specialization in Combustion, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Aerospace Propulsion, or Thermal Sciences.
Experience supporting aerospace propulsion or gas turbine engine development.
Knowledge of combustion instability, flame dynamics, and combustion acoustics.
Experience with advanced data analysis methods such as Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), Spectral POD (SPOD), Fourier analysis, or modal decomposition techniques.
Experience with optical combustion diagnostics, particle image velocimetry (PIV), laser diagnostics, or flow visualization.
Experience with combustion rig testing or engine validation programs.
Knowledge of aerospace industry standards and product development processes.
Familiarity with statistical analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and uncertainty analysis.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize combustion systems for gas turbine engines, propulsion systems, and advanced energy applications.
Plan, execute, and analyze laboratory and engine-level combustion experiments to evaluate combustion efficiency, flame stability, emissions, ignition performance, and thermal characteristics.
Investigate combustion dynamics, turbulent reacting flows, and combustion instability mechanisms using experimental and analytical techniques.
Perform thermal-fluid analyses to improve combustor performance, fuel-air mixing, cooling effectiveness, and emissions reduction.
Develop experimental test plans, define instrumentation requirements, and support combustion rig and engine testing activities.
Analyze large experimental datasets using statistical methods and advanced signal processing techniques.
Correlate experimental findings with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and analytical models to improve design accuracy.
Support root cause investigations involving combustion performance, operability, emissions, and hardware durability.
Collaborate with design engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing, test engineering, and program management teams to develop combustion hardware.
Prepare engineering reports, technical presentations, design documentation, and test summaries for internal and customer reviews.
Participate in design reviews and provide technical recommendations for combustor improvements and new technology development.
Support qualification, verification, and validation activities for combustion components and systems. Support operability modeling and verification testing.
Stay current on emerging combustion technologies, sustainable fuels, emissions regulations, and propulsion advancements.