Senior Combustor Design Engineer

About the role

The Senior Combustor Design Engineer will lead the design, development, analysis, and validation of combustor systems for advanced micro‑jet engines. You will translate engine performance targets into robust combustor concepts that achieve stable combustion, high thermal efficiency, reliable ignition, low emissions and long component life within very compact engine architectures.

Key responsibilities

• Define combustor design requirements from engine cycle data, thrust, pressure loss, emissions, ignition envelope and turbine inlet temperature limits.
• Develop combustor architecture – dome, primary zone, swirler, fuel injection, dilution and cooling strategies.
• Perform preliminary sizing using first‑principles calculations, empirical correlations and trade‑off studies.
• Refine geometry through concept, preliminary, detailed and verification phases.
• Analyse flow field behaviour, mixing efficiency, ignition performance, flame stability, liner heat load and exit temperature distribution.
• Conduct design sensitivity studies on geometry, airflow split, fuel scheduling and manufacturing tolerances.
• Support CFD studies, rig testing and full‑engine testing; correlate predictions with measured data.
• Iterate designs based on test findings, performance gaps and durability results.
• Collaborate with performance, aerodynamics, mechanical, materials, manufacturing and test teams for seamless engine integration.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Thermal Engineering or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in gas‑turbine combustion, combustor design or propulsion system development.
• Proven track record across the full combustor design lifecycle from concept to verification and testing.
• Ability to correlate CFD and analytical results with rig or engine test data and implement improvements.

Required skills

• CFD analysis
• Combustor design and sizing
• Gas‑turbine combustion fundamentals (swirl, recirculation, fuel atomisation, flame stabilization)
• Liner cooling and thermal management
• First‑principles calculations and empirical correlations
• Design sensitivity and trade‑off studies
• Rig and engine testing validation