City: Ottawa
Organizational Unit: Aerospace
Classification: RO
Tenure: Term
Duration: 2 years
Language Requirements: English
Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
The programThe NRC's Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world-class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi-disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).
PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $83,985. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.
Project titleEnabling Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Propulsion for Attritable UAS Swarm
The roleThe 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.
EducationPhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency
ExperienceExperience 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 requirementsEnglish
Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests
Condition of employmentReliability 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 requirementsTo 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.
CompensationThe intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early-career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.
Salary determination will be based on a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate's prior experience. This evaluation will consider specific achievements, skills, and contributions that demonstrate the candidate's impact and expertise. As a guide, the average starting rate for new PhD graduates entering this role is $83,985.
The NRC is committed to supporting career progression within the organization, providing access to the opportunities and resources needed for a pathway to a fulfilling career. NRC employees also enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.
Notes- In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada's Best Employer.
- Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
- Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
- The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
- We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (26214) to:
Telephone: 4506454208
Closing Date: 7 January 2027 - 23:59 Eastern Time
For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources
*If you are currently a
term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.
