Hypersonic Propulsion Engineer (Scramjet CFD & Design)

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Aerospace Propulsion Engineer to join a team solving hypersonic propulsion challenges. You will design, analyze, and evaluate advanced scramjet propulsion systems for DoD programs, working with experienced engineers to advance high-fidelity CFD modeling.

The role emphasizes curiosity, quick learning, questioning assumptions, and understanding why results occur.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Aerospace, Mechanical, Physics, or related field.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, compressible flow, thermodynamics, combustion, numerical methods, or CFD.
• Applied computational methods via employment, research, internships, lab work, or substantial academic projects.
• Familiarity with CFD, meshes, boundary conditions, numerical methods, and physical models.
• Interest in scramjet, dual-mode ramjet, or other high-speed propulsion systems.
• Basic experience with Linux and programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, C++, or Fortran.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and analysis of scramjet inlet, isolator, combustor, and nozzle flowpaths.
• Apply CFD to compressible and reacting-flow problems.
• Create and evaluate computational meshes for internal-flow and integrated-vehicle geometries.
• Execute and post-process simulations using finite-rate chemistry and appropriate physical models.
• Examine mesh sensitivity, numerical convergence, boundary conditions, and modeling assumptions.
• Compare computational results with experimental data, analytical results, and engineering models.
• Investigate unexpected results and develop possible physical explanations.
• Build scripts and workflows for simulation setup, data processing, and visualization.
• Document and present your methods, assumptions, results, and conclusions.
• Take increasing ownership of technical problems as your experience develops.

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Compressible flow

Thermodynamics

Combustion

Numerical methods

CFD

Python

MATLAB

C++

Fortran

Linux

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s in Aerospace/Mechanical/Physics

Master’s in propulsion/CFD

Tools

CFD software

Mesh generation

Scripting

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Aerospace Propulsion Engineer to join a team solving hypersonic propulsion challenges. You will design, analyze, and evaluate advanced scramjet propulsion systems for DoD programs, working with experienced engineers to advance high-fidelity CFD modeling.

The role emphasizes curiosity, quick learning, questioning assumptions, and understanding why results occur.