Research Scientist - Ceramist

Job Description Summary

As a Scientist specializing in advanced ceramic materials and coating systems, the successful candidate will contribute to research and development efforts focused on the design, optimization, and qualification of next-generation ceramic coatings, with emphasis on thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems. This role requires strong knowledge of ceramic materials, ceramic chemistry, coating architectures, high-temperature alloy systems, and degradation mechanisms in extreme environments.

The successful candidate will work at the intersection of computational and experimental materials science to accelerate coating and alloy development through a combination of modeling, characterization, and laboratory-scale validation.

• Contribute to early-stage research and applied initiatives in advanced ceramic coating systems, including thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and related protective coatings such as abradable, low-friction, wear-resistant, anti-corrosion, and environmental barrier coatings.
• Design and optimize coating chemistries, including dopant selection, phase stabilization strategies, and compositional tailoring to enhance thermal stability, sintering resistance, toughness, and resistance to extreme environments.
• Develop novel coating compositions for topcoats and bond coat-compatible systems suitable for extreme turbine operating temperatures.
• Establish microstructure-property-performance relationships for coating systems under cyclic thermal and mechanical loading.
• Evaluate coating degradation mechanisms, including phase transformation, thermally grown oxide (TGO) evolution, sintering behavior, and environmental attack.
• Collaborate with process engineers to translate coating chemistry into scalable deposition methods (e.g., APS, SPS, EB-PVD, HVOF, VPS).
• Support technology development efforts in collaboration with GE Vernova businesses and research teams to advance future coating technologies and product roadmaps.
• Lead high-temperature testing programs, including thermal cycling, burner rig testing, oxidation testing, and environmental durability assessments.
• Drive innovation through publications, patents, and proposal development for internally and externally funded programs.
• Identify and develop collaborative relationships with academic institutions, national laboratories, industry partners, government agencies, and GE Vernova experts to maximize technical impact.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams including materials scientists, mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers, modelers, and quality specialists.

PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline with 0 years of experience. 3+ years of experience in advanced ceramics, coatings, high-temperature alloys, computational materials science, or related materials technologies through doctoral research, publications, internships, or other relevant research experience.

Due to the nature of the duties of this position, this role requires the individual to be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance. A prerequisite for a security clearance is U.S. Citizenship. Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.

• Designing and modifying ceramic coating chemistries.
• Phase equilibria, thermodynamics, and high-temperature kinetics of ceramic materials.
• High-temperature alloy design and behavior, including phase stability, oxidation resistance, creep, diffusion, and environmental degradation.
• High-temperature oxidation, corrosion, and environmental degradation mechanisms.
• Integrated computational and experimental approaches for advanced materials development, including CALPHAD, computational thermodynamics, materials informatics, machine learning, finite element modeling, or related tools.
• Bridging computational predictions with experimental validation to establish composition-process-microstructure-property-performance relationships in advanced materials systems.
• Strong background in microstructural characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, XRD, EBSD, EDS) and thermal/mechanical property evaluation.
• Practical knowledge of safety practices related to experimental design and laboratory operations.
• Experience working with coating deposition technologies relevant to turbine components.
• Research experience in ceramic coatings,…