About this role The emergence of attritable uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) is transforming modern defence concepts by enabling large-scale autonomous
swarms. Realizing this vision requires propulsion systems that are substantially less expensive than conventional piston or gas-turbine engines. Detonation engines offer a promising alternative. Consisting essentially of simple-geometry tubes. This project proposes the development and evaluation of a novel inlet architecture for detonation engines. The proposed research will combine computational fluid dynamics and experimental validation to establish the feasibility of the proposed detonation engine inlets. Successful demonstration could enable a new generation of low-cost, high-efficiency propulsion systems for attritable UAS. Key Requirements Education PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering. Experience Experience with any 2 of the following 3 experience criteria: Basic experience in design for additive manufacturing (ceramic and/or metal); Basic experience using advanced cooling technologies; Basic experience in compressible flow (shock wave and/or detonation). Language requirements English Condition of employment Reliability Status For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required. Who is eligible? Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year. Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2024*) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment. Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher. Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail. Application requirements To be considered for the program please include the following in your application, please note that you will need to attach the required documents as per the list below when submitting your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded. Resume Statement of Interest in the project (maximum one page in length) PhD Transcript - an electronic copy is sufficient, it does not have to be an official version. List of Publications When submitting your application you can include the required documents in any attachment field such as «Second language evaluation results» or «Other attachments» In addition, applicants who best meet the requirements of the position will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation at a later stage of the competition process. Posted 2026-11-05
