Chemical Kinetics Modeling Engineer

Job No: Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)Location: Dayton, OHCategories: Research Institute StaffDepartment: Thermal Management - Pay Grade: R2 - ExemptAdvertised: 31 Jul 2026Applications close:

Position Summary

Join the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) as a Chemical Kinetics Modeling Engineer where you will bring your modeling expertise to develop powerful fuel flow and chemistry simulations! Located in the vibrant tech hub of Dayton, Ohio, you'll contribute to cutting-edge research that directly impacts national security and technological advancement. UDRI offers an exceptional work environment where research excellence thrives. You'll enjoy comprehensive benefits including robust health coverage, retirement contributions, and professional development opportunities.

Role Description

The primary purpose of this position is to lead the development, numerical optimization, and validation of chemical kinetic mechanisms for complex aviation fuels and surrogate models. The researcher will utilize advanced computational tools and mathematical optimization techniques to align theoretical chemical models with experimental reactor data. This role bridges the gap between fundamental physical chemistry, reaction engineering, and applied computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to support advanced propulsion, thermal management, and energy system modeling.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related STEM field, plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant research experience (or a Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of highly specialized experience).
• Proficiency with chemical kinetics modeling software (e.g., Cantera, Chemkin).
• Experience with fluid dynamics software in current position (coursework alone may be acceptable if all other criteria met).
• Strong programming skills in Python or equivalent, with specific expertise in scientific computing and numerical optimization libraries.
• Experience processing and interpreting experimental datasets to validate computational models.
• Comfortable working in groups, communicating/collaborating, and presenting technical findings to management.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.
• Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or Aerospace) plus 5 years of relevant research experience.
• At least one degree (B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.) specifically in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Experience coupling chemical kinetics with fluid dynamics software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent) for reacting flow simulations.
• Expertise in surrogate fuel formulation, structural constraint modeling, and hierarchical mechanism tuning.
• Familiarity with interpreting high-resolution analytical chemistry data (e.g., GCxGC).

Closing Statement

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.

• Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater) 1