Job Description Summary

Located in Niskayuna, New York, central to the New York Capital District, GE Aerospace Research builds on GE’s 125+ years of industrial research heritage, tackling the most challenging engineering problems through multi-disciplinary teams to deliver innovative technologies. Together, we create and sustain differentiated solutions to maintain competitive advantages for GE Aerospace and our customers.

Job Description

At GE Aerospace Research, we invent the future of flight, lift people up and bring them home safely. As a Lead Test Engineer - Combustion, you will be a member of a world-class team that is focused on developing cutting-edge turbine engine combustion technology and advanced concepts for advanced air-breathing propulsion systems.

The Combustion Team is multi-disciplinary, bringing together system level thinkers, component and technology subject matter experts, and specialists in project execution and testing to demonstrate innovative combustion systems tailored for our diverse applications.

Essential Responsibilities

You will work in a team carrying out research and development of next generation combustion technology for low-emissions gas turbines and other high-speed air-breathing propulsion systems. In this role you will:

• Work with technicians and engineers to design and install new experimental hardware
• Perform high-pressure combustion experiments simulating engine operation and analyze data
• Contribute to project reviews and archive results – recommend design improvements

• Apply your knowledge of engineering principals to:
  • Design test hardware to meet test objectives.
  • Construct, commission, and operate integrated test systems to measure the performance of standalone components or system concepts.
• Lead test teams of engineers, test engineers, and technicians through the development of complex test enabling systems. This includes:
  • Assessment of technical, operating, safety, and programmatic risks
  • Management of change process for your test systems
  • Interfacing with facility operations and outside vendors
  • Interfacing with multiple technical teams across the site
• Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to safety in all aspects of test system design, fabrication, commissioning, and operation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM related discipline with 4 years of engineering experience, OR a Master's Degree in a STEM related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of engineering experience
• Experience designing, fabricating, and operating test hardware
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interface with researchers, customers, and vendors with clarity and confidence
• Due to the nature of the duties of this position, this role requires the individual to have the ability to obtain and maintain US Government Security Clearance; prerequisite for a security clearance is U.S. citizenship. 
• Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.

Desired Characteristics

• Background in gas turbine combustion, including: thermo-acoustic instabilities (combustion dynamics), fuel/air premixing systems, flame propagation in complex fuel mixtures, combustion kinetics & chemistry, design and evaluation of new combustion systems, and modeling of combustion systems
• Experience with advanced instrumentation and optical diagnostics
• Experience working with high-pressure, high-temperature combustion experiments
• Practical experience with data acquisition, instrumentation, process controls, and experimental methods.
• Experience managing task and/or project execution.
  • Manage the daily project workflow and interactions between test engineering, facilities, vendors, and technical subject matter experts.
  • Develop, maintain, and execute to a project schedule.
  • Estimate project budgets and track spending through project execution.

The base pay range for this position is $80,00 - $150,000 USD Annually. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a percentage of your base salary based on the plan. This posting is expected to close on August 31st, 2025.

Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providin