Lead Research Engineer — Hypersonic CMC & Modeling

RPMGlobal; Beavercreek (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ARCTOS a DCS company is seeking a research scientist or engineer to support AFRL/RE’s Composite, Ceramic, Metallic & Materials Performance Division, focusing on ceramic matrix composites in extreme hypersonic and space environments. The role blends experimental mechanics, diagnostics, and multiscale computational modeling to develop novel testing frameworks and non-traditional modeling approaches.

You will bridge laboratory results with predictive performance and durability analyses for advanced

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of War Secret security clearance.
• MS or PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or related field.
• 4 years of experience in engineering analysis, scientific computing, digital engineering, experimental thermomechanical testing, or computational mechanics.
• Experience supporting DoW, aerospace, or other configuration-controlled programs is desirable.
• Expertise in computational modeling & mechanics of materials; continuum mechanics, fracture and damage mechanics; FEA for heterogeneous materials; mesoscale/multiscale modeling; scripting for automated modeling and data visualization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with government sponsors and technical teams on advanced computational modeling strategies.
• Develop and guide novel mechanical testing methodologies for complex CMC architectures.
• Correlate high-resolution material characterization data with finite element models and failure predictions.
• Establish physics-based design margins and life-prediction methodologies.
• Assess manufacturing pathways' impact on defect distributions and structural integrity.
• Present findings at technical conferences and brief senior stakeholders.

Skills

Computational Modeling & Mechanics of

Continuum mechanics

Fracture mechanics

Damage mechanics

Uncertainty quantification

Scripting & computing (Python, MATLAB,

FEA/Multiscale modeling

Education

MS/PhD in Materials Science & Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering / Engineering Mechanics

Tools

Abaqus

ANSYS

COMSOL

Python

MATLAB

C/C++/Fortran

Job description

ARCTOS a DCS company is seeking a research scientist or engineer to support AFRL/RE’s Composite, Ceramic, Metallic & Materials Performance Division, focusing on ceramic matrix composites in extreme hypersonic and space environments. The role blends experimental mechanics, diagnostics, and multiscale computational modeling to develop novel testing frameworks and non-traditional modeling approaches.

You will bridge laboratory results with predictive performance and durability analyses for advanced