Senior Hypersonic Propulsion Engineer

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Aerospace Propulsion Engineer to advance scramjet/dual-mode ramjet concepts with high-fidelity CFD and rigorous analysis. You will guide design decisions, validate models, and mentor engineers within critical U.S. DoD programs.

The role requires a bachelor’s in a relevant field, 5+ years of experience, and ability to obtain a Secret clearance. Proficiency in Linux and programming (Python/MATLAB/C/C++/Fortran) is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Five+ years of relevant experience or equivalent through research and technical accomplishments.
• Direct experience designing or analyzing scramjet, dual-mode ramjet, or related high-speed propulsion flowpaths.
• Substantial experience applying CFD to compressible reacting flows using finite-rate chemistry.
• Understand integrated inlet, isolator, combustor, and nozzle performance and operability.
• Experience evaluating mesh quality, numerical convergence, modeling assumptions, and simulation credibility.
• Ability to independently frame unfamiliar technical problems and defend recommendations.
• Experience with Linux and programming/scripting in Python, MATLAB, C++, Fortran, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and analysis of integrated scramjet inlet, isolator, combustor, and nozzle flowpaths.
• Apply high-fidelity CFD with finite-rate chemistry to compressible reacting-flow problems.
• Investigate phenomena such as shock trains, unstart, fuel-air mixing, ignition, flameholding, and propulsion-airframe interaction.
• Plan and assess verification, validation, mesh-sensitivity, and model-sensitivity studies.
• Compare computational predictions with ground-test, flight-test, and lower-order analysis results.
• Diagnose unexpected test or simulation behavior and recommend design or test changes.
• Improve computational, meshing, post-processing, and high-performance-computing workflows.
• Communicate conclusions to Government sponsors, industry partners, and technical teams.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers.

Skills

Propulsion design

CFD - reacting flows

Python

MATLAB

C++

Fortran

Linux

Communication

Security clearance

Problem framing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

CFD++

US3D

VULCAN-CFD

GridPro

Pointwise

Tecplot

Cantera

Job description

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Aerospace Propulsion Engineer to advance scramjet/dual-mode ramjet concepts with high-fidelity CFD and rigorous analysis. You will guide design decisions, validate models, and mentor engineers within critical U.S. DoD programs.

The role requires a bachelor’s in a relevant field, 5+ years of experience, and ability to obtain a Secret clearance. Proficiency in Linux and programming (Python/MATLAB/C/C++/Fortran) is essential.