Job Description

The successful candidate will work on the five year, EPSRC funded, Virtual Exascale Calculations Transform Aviation (Vecta) Prosperity Partnership (jointly led by the University of Edinburgh and Rolls-Royce). The post is in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Queen's University Belfast, and the postholder will join a research team of leading academics, research fellows and PhD students conducting design related research with Rolls-Royce.
This post will require involvement with the wider Vecta project team and will involve leading research into using leading computational design and simulation (FEA and CFD) on the new UK National Supercomputer. More information is available here: https://www.epcc.ed.ac.uk/whats-happening/articles/new-prosperitypartnership-transform-aviation-carbon-emissions; https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-businesses-and-academiapartner-up-in-cutting-edge-research/. The two posts available will work together, and with the wider project team, to research novel computational methods for automatically creating extremely large simulation models faster and better, including mesh generation and boundary condition application.
The posts are primarily office based, with some opportunities for hybrid working. Direct collaboration with industry and academic partners will be a key aspect of the role, including regular visits to research facilities across the UK.
About the person:
To be considered for interview, candidates must demonstrate they meet the essential criteria, which includes:

• Have at least a 2:1 honours degree in Mechanical, Aerospace engineering, Mechatronics or closely related discipline,
• Have, or be about to obtain, a relevant PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics or closely related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience in the advanced use of Computer-Aided-Design and mesh based Computer Aided Engineering (i.e. FEA or CFD) software tools,
• A proven track record of using relevant techniques to carry out analyses, critical evaluations, and interpretations of data as relevant to the research project,
• Demonstrable experience in working effectively as part of a research team,
• Have a track record of high quality publications appropriate to stage in career.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
This post is available for 60 months. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.
What we offer:
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.
For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit .
If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application -

Skills Required