Research Associate, Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineer

Research Associate Department Mechanical Engineering Salary Starting from £38,784, rising to £46,049 Closing date Monday 26 October 2026 About the role Advance Your Engineering Career Through Innovation and Impact The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the fluid dynamics and heat transfer in rotating compressor cavities of gas turbine engines. The project is funded by the EPSRC in collaboration with the University of Surrey, Rolls-Royce and Siemens Energy.

We are seeking a driven and capable individual to lead a high-impact project developing the next generation of hydrogen-compatible turbo machinery technology. This position will offer you a way to apply your experience to a project that could shape the future of green energy technology and net-zero aerospace. As the Research Associate, youll lead a technically ambitious project with real-world application and long-term value.

Youll have the chance to:

- Take ownership of a major research project to advance the understanding of fluid-dynamics and heat transfer through innovative experimental methods
- Work at the intersection of academia and industry with support from both
- Develop your skills in leadership, innovation, and strategic technical development
- Gain access to training and a personal development allowance
- Broaden your professional network through interaction with industrial partners

This role offers the autonomy of an academic position, with the added benefits of structured support and mentoring. The goal is to investigate experimentally the buoyancy-induced rotating flow in a compressor cavity at low TRL. The research is underpinned by brand new instrumentation and will be conducted over a range of non-dimensional, engine-representative conditions. The study includes a fundamental exploration of boundary-layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow at high Grashof number.

The experiments will be complemented by computational simulation at the University of Surrey, with the aim to scale data to higher TRL. The successful completion and implementation of this research will improve engine design methods at Rolls-Royce and Siemens for next-generation hydrogen-compatible engines. About you The ideal candidate will have:

- A PhD in a relevant engineering field or experience in industrial R&D

- Experience with experimentation and data analysis tools such as Matlab
- Proficiency in CAD
- Confidence working independently and engaging with multiple stakeholders Further Information This role is offered on a full-time (36.5 hours), fixed term basis with an expected duration of 36 months. For informal questions about the role, please contact James Scobie or Gary Lock. Contact details are available via the apply button. We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged.

We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university.

We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment. We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, an accredited Disability Confident Leader, and an autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff. What we can offer you We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

- Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
- Generous employer contributory pension schemes
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Staff discount at Team Bath gym
- Staff benefits, including discounted postgraduate tuition and language courses, alongside a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities such as apprenticeships, Linked In Learning, and more
- Local discounts,…