UDRI is a national leader in scientific and engineering research, serving government, industry and nonprofit customers. This is a full time benefit eligible position that offers health, dental and vision insurance, retirement, disability, vacation, sick accrual and paid Holidays. Join the UDRI team and apply now!

The Advanced Composites Group that is part of the Structural Materials (SM) Division in the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) is seeking a highly motivated and talented engineer to join a multidisciplinary research group performing processing, micro-structure characterization, performance evaluation, and testing of advanced composites. The successful candidate will perform fundamental research in the emerging area of additively manufactured composites, topology optimization of geometry of composite parts for performance, composite micro-structure characterization at the meso- and micro- scale, finite element analysis to generate, analyze and test unidirectional and textile architectures, and conduct advanced experimental characterization, such as with digital image correlation, in support of those tasks. The applicant must be able to interpret and compare analysis results with experiments, and be proficient in technical report writing including publishing in technical journals. A successful candidate must be able to learn quickly and work independently. Additionally, the candidate must be able to contribute to group meetings and planning/review sessions and interact with government scientists and engineers.


Minimum Qualifications
• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering or related field, with relevant academic and/or professional experience.
• Minimum 4 years of research experience.
• Strong analytical and experimental background in mechanics of polymers, composites and fracture.
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis simulating damage and failure, composite failure mechanisms and with physics-based life prediction models.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in thermo-mechanical testing of composites.
• Experience with micro-characterization techniques such as optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT).
• Must be able to perform analysis, interpretation and comparison of modeling results with experiments.
• Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally, and publish in technical journals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Applicants must be a Citizen of the U.S.A. and be able to pass a National Agency Check for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering, or related field, with relevant academic and/or professional experience.
• 5 years of research experience post-graduation in the field.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both written and verbally and to contribute to government-led multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Detail oriented and capable of completing multiple time-sensitive tasks, able to prioritize workloads, and the ability to thrive in fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

A federal court on December 7, 2021, issued a ruling that suspends the COVID-19 vaccine requirement that applies to federal contractors nationwide. With this development, the University will pause any enforcement action against employees who have not complied with the requirement to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021 or to have requested an exemption to maintain their employment status.

The University will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic on campus and in the community as well as developments in federal and state requirements, and also will continue to regularly consult with public health officials and our medical panel. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our protocols and requirements are subject to change depending on conditions on campus or in our community, and government requirements.


 

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.