AE Defense Performance Engineer

Job Title: Performance Engineer, AE Defense

Working Pattern: Full time

Working location: Indianapolis, IN/Hybrid – (3 Office Days/Week on avg.)

As an AE Defense Performance Engineer, you will play a key role within the cross-functional product team designing and analyzing innovative propulsion systems. This role involves design, simulation and verification of engines at whole system level to predict and verify emergent system attributes which arise from the integration of sub-system components. This exciting opportunity comes with a fast-paced team environment where everybody is empowered to take personal accountability for their work while acting with empathy and integrity.

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

• Performing propulsion cycle analysis and performance predictions by creating computer simulation to satisfy an overall set of system requirements with Steady State and Transient Performance understanding
• Experience with Gas Turbine Performance Cycle modeling techniques and toils and understanding of Thermodynamics, Test Analysis, Transient Engine Operability and Whole Engine Sensitivities
• Understanding system level issues related to propulsion system design, performance, operability and operation
• Creating innovative solutions to system level issues related to aircraft and/or propulsion system performance
• Specifying and Supporting propulsion systems performance testing, writing technical reports and creating technical presentations of engineering analysis and results
• Presenting propulsion systems performance function to customer, both internal and external to Rolls-Royce

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 Qualifications:

• Associates Degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with 3+ years of experience in thermodynamics, gas dynamics, fluid mechanics and/or engine design; OR,
• Bachelor`s degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with 1+ experience in thermodynamics, gas dynamics, fluid mechanics and/or engine design; OR,
• Master`s degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with experience in thermodynamics, gas dynamics, fluid mechanics and/or engine design; OR,
• A PhD in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with experience in thermodynamics, gas dynamics, fluid mechanics and/or engine design
• In order to be eligible for consideration, you must be a U.S. Citizen

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in the performance-related support of the design and/or development of gas turbines
• Simulation/modelling of gas turbine cycles, cycle analysis, engine operability, sizing and/or preliminary design analysis
• Engine cycle design to meet aircraft manufacturer or government objectives including current and future technologies
• Experience in thermodynamic cycle modelling in Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) or similar
• Proficiency in computer programming language such as FORTRAN, Visual Basic, and/or C++/MATLAB
• Knowledge in robust design techniques, and Monte Carlo analyses as well as visualization including statistical software such as JMP or Minitab
• Proficiency in exercising large technical databases and constructing database queries using codes such as PYTHON
• Experience with advanced numerical and computational techniques including neural networks, machine learning and artificial intelligence

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.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position at this time.

Global Grade/Level: GG9

Closing date: 3/27/2026

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Mechanical Systems $73,120 - $118,820-Annually Indianapolis, IN

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.