Postdoc Fellowship, Low-Cost Propulsion Attritable Drone Swarm

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Priority will be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

Organizational Unit:Aerospace

Classification:RO

Duration: 2 years

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.

Enabling Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Propulsion for Attritable UAS Swarm

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.

PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.

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).

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

• 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.

• 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

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.

The 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.

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada's Best Employers!

As Canada's largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada's future…