Senior Research Scientist – Thermal Spray - Aerospace Research

GE Aerospace • Town of Niskayuna, NY

25d • Onsite

About The Position

At GE Aerospace Research, we develop advanced materials and manufacturing technology for the future of flight. Our technological innovation drives sustainable air travel and enables next-generation systems for use in commercial and military applications.

As a Senior Research Scientist – Thermal Spray, you will lead and conduct basic and applied research in the area of thermal spray, with a focus on coatings processing. You will help drive innovation, strategy, and technology transfer for a range of current and future GE Aerospace products. As a recognized technical expert, you will lead technology programs, tackle complex technical challenges, and drive technical execution across multiple projects and stakeholders.

Requirements

• This position requires U.S. Citizenship
• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 7 years’ experience
• Deep expertise in thermal spray technologies to develop coatings for aerospace applications and demonstrated understanding of process-structure-property relationships for coatings
• Demonstrated ability to learn new areas of research and solve complex technical problems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to understand customer needs and industry trends to guide strategy, make decisions, and communicate priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to lead complex technical programs with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in Material Science and Engineering with 7+ years of relevant professional experience in applying thermal spray technologies to develop coatings and solutions for industrial applications.
• Demonstrated experience at identifying and capturing funding for innovative ideas across a broad network of external agencies.
• Track record of peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations.
• Experience in leading cross-disciplinary research teams.
• Experience in transferring technology from the laboratory to commercialization.
• Strong technical acumen paired with an ability to understand a wide range of technology domains.
• Demonstrated thought leadership and ability to lead through influence and collaboration.
• Passion for hands on development and laboratory work.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels of an organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead basic and applied research in thermal spray to enable current and future GE coating technologies
• Understand and control key components of thermal spray processing (powder, nozzle dynamics, robotics and automation, dimensional monitoring, etc) to optimize microstructure and performance of resulting coatings.
• Partner closely with GE Aerospace’s internal product departments, global R&D sites, external and internal material developers, strategic suppliers, and universities.
• Serve as technical focal for thermal spray processes/related methodologies and guide technical vision and strategy.
• Identify long-term technical challenges and specific growth opportunities in thermal spray technologies for current and future GE Aerospace products. Develop research objectives and action plans to address these opportunities.
• Identify and capture funding for innovative ideas through the preparation and submission of proposals to external agencies (AFRL, ARL, NRL, ONR, AFOSR, DOE, ARPA-E, and others).
• Capture intellectual property through patent filings or trade secret documents.
• Lead technical reviews of key programs to ensure the right technical approach and quality are being delivered to our customers.
• Develop strong networks across GE Aerospace and external customers (including academia, government agencies/labs, and other partners) to build teams focused on maximizing outcomes and accelerating innovation.
• Serve as a mentor for less experienced researchers.
• Deliver effective presentations, reports, publications to GE Aerospace Research, GE Aerospace, government agencies, and professional societies when appropriate.

Benefits

• Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services.
• Retirement benefits include the GE Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants.
• Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree