Technical Specialist - Aerothermal

Job Title: Technical Specialist - Aerothermal

Working Pattern: Fulltime

Working location: Indianapolis, IN

Exciting opportunities for Aero Engineers have arisen within a number of our Programmes and Capability development teams. In all areas these roles involve working with a range of key business stakeholders to support the delivery of key programme milestones thus enabling the delivery of our Defence strategy for the next 50 years. This is how we create brilliance, which we should sell by letting the facts speak for themselves.

The Engineering Technology & Safety Aerothermal teams are responsible for the aerothermal design and validation of modules in the gas turbine main flow-path, including Intake, Fan, Compressor, Combustor, Turbine, After-Burner and Exhaust systems. Working alongside the mechanical design teams these aero teams specify the gas-washed surfaces and commit to sub-system performance levels.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.

We are proud to be a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

We want to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that has shaped our history continues into our future and we need people like you to come and join us on this journey.

Rolls-Royce has been recognized as the top employer in the Engineering & Manufacturing category on the prestigious Forbes Top Employers for Engineers list for 2025. This ranking highlights our commitment to innovation, employee development, and fostering a collaborative environment where engineers can thrive.

Be part of a team that sets the industry standard and drives groundbreaking solutions.

At Rolls-Royce, we are committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. We foster a welcoming and innovative work environment that invests in you, giving you access to an incredible breadth and depth of opportunities where you can grow your career and make a difference.

Rolls-Royce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristics.

What you will be doing

• Design, analyze, and simulate compression systems (fan, compressor, inlet) components and sub-systems using a variety of methodologies, including meanline, throughflow, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
• Work with performance organization and system level design to define, understand, and interpret sub-system requirements and issue sub-system performance maps and bids.
• Interface with or develop experience in aeromechanics and mechanical design to understand impact on aerodynamic design
• Plan, execute, and oversee component and sub-system “rig” tests for product development and/or technology development.
• Assemble, interpret, and report a combination of CFD simulations, experimental results, and first principle analyses into a cohesive understanding of component and sub-system capabilities as measured against requirements.
• Support the wider cold end aerodynamics discipline, both locally and globally, with capability acquisition via methods and coding, technology plans, and collaborating in the community of practice.
• Practice continuous improvement principles by using and updating best practices, process automation, and eliminating wasteful process steps

Who we’re looking for:

At Rolls-Royce we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form the behaviours that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics or mathematics and 5+ years of experience in the aero industry OR
• Master's Degree in a quality, engineering discipline or business management and 3+ years experience in the aero industry OR
• JD/PhD in a quality, engineering discipline or business management and aerospace
• In order to be eligible for this opportunity, you must be a US Citizen

Preferred Requirements:

• Proficient with aerodynamics, turbomachinery, airfoil design, and computation fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Competent with gas turbine engine architecture, thermodynamics, and heat transfer
• Previous experience in centrifugal compressor design or fan or compressor aerodynamic design
• Communicates aerothermal concepts clearly and succinctly with appropriate technical depth to variety of audiences
• Works well in a collaborative, multidisciplinary, product focused team
• Has a wide awareness of engineering issues & requirements

What we offer

We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location.  It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement.  As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.

Benefits

Rolls-Royce provides a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that includes base pay and a discretionary bonus plan. Eligible employees may have the opportunity to enroll in other benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance; a flexible spending account; a health savings account; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match; Employee Assistance Program; Paid Time Off; certain paid holidays; paid parental and family care leave; tuition reimbursement; and a long-term incentive plan. The options available to an employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as date of hire, employment type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.