Research Assistant or Associate in Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation

SONICOM; Greater London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College London invites applications for a Research Assistant/Associate in Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation. You will develop computational tools bridging aeroelasticity, structural analysis and manufacturing constraints for early-stage wing design.

The role offers exposure to industry partners such as Airbus, opportunities to travel to conferences, and a chance to advance project management and supervision skills within a world-leading university.

Qualifications

• PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline (or equivalent research or industry experience).
• For Research Assistant: a recognised first-class master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in computational modelling and design optimisation for aircraft design.
• Experience in scientific computing using Python and JAX.
• Some experience with machine learning and GPUs.
• Interest in working in a larger group and collaborating with industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational methods for wing optimisation considering nonlinear dynamic aeroelastic behaviour.
• Use GPU-accelerated computing, programme-level algorithm differentiation, and large-scale parameter space methods.
• Embed results in an optimisation framework including structural sizing and failure analysis of wing components.
• Travel to international conferences and collaborate with industry partners (Airbus).

Skills

Computational modelling

Design optimisation

Scientific computing

Python

JAX

GPU computing

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng or related

Master's in Aerospace/Mechanical Eng

Tools

Python

JAX

Job description

Research Assistant or Associate in Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation

This post (Research Assistant/Associate in Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation) will allow you to contribute to a major industry-funded project developing the next generation of aircraft wings, led by Airbus and funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute. You will develop strong research, supervision, network, communication and project management skills. You will gain unique experience developing cutting‑edge computational tools that bridge aeroelasticity, structural analysis and manufacturing constraints for early‑stage design. You will get the opportunity to travel to international scientific conferences and to industry partners (Airbus).

Your work will focus on development methods for aircraft design in dynamic environments. Computational strategies for aircraft design optimisation are currently based on static (or static equivalent) conditions, but this can be too conservative for high‑aspect‑ratio wings under dynamic conditions, such as flight through atmospheric turbulence. This project will develop algorithms to bring dynamic aeroelasticity into the optimisation loop on a framework that scales to industrial‑level analysis. We will use high‑performance numerical computing on modern hardware, thus leveraging the vast computational infrastructure built for AI to redefine the art of the possible in next‑generation aircraft design.

What you would be doing

You will develop computational methods for wing optimisation that consider the nonlinear dynamic aeroelastic behaviour of the wings under a vast numbers of scenarios and identifies critical conditions and their changes with respect to wing design parameters. This will be achieved through GPU‑accelerated computing, programme‑level algorithm differentiation, and advanced software methods for collective operations over large parameter spaces. Outcomes will be embedded in an optimisation framework that also includes structural sizing and failure analysis of wing components.

What we are looking for

Research Associate: Hold a PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant.

Research Associate and Assistant: A recognised first class masters degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline

• Experience in computational modelling and design optimisation, preferably in an aircraft design context
• Experience in scientific computing, in particular, using Python and JAX.
• Some experience with machine learning algorithms and GPUs
• An interest in working in a larger group, collaborating with industry.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to build a strong network with contacts at Airbus
• The opportunity to develop computational tools for early‑stage aircraft wing design that will inform design practice at Airbus
• Ample scope for travelling to international conferences to disseminate the work done.
• Ample scope for publishing in leading journals.
• The opportunity to gain experience with cutting‑edge computational methods at the interface of aeroelasticity, structural analysis and optimisation.
• The opportunity to gain supervision and project management experience.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world‑leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Sector‑leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes).

Further information

This post is available until 31st October 2029.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Professor Rafael Palacios [e-mail]

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

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