Senior Performance Engineer

Our people have always been our most valuable asset. They’re brilliant problem solvers who believe challenges are opportunities. We take pride in attracting the industry’s brightest minds and it is their diverse set of skills, personalities and experiences that will help us achieve our ambitious goal.

Do you want to work for the most Innovative and Sustainable Tech Company of the Year 2022 (Thames Valley Tech Awards)?

We are seeking an enthusiastic and high calibre Senior Performance Engineer for a rare opportunity. You will join our Systems Architecture, Performance and Aerothermal (SAPA) team and make a significant contribution to performance analysis activity for our Space Access and High Speed Flight strategic programmes. You will have a good understanding of gas turbine or flight vehicle performance analysis and conceptual design trades, a passion and flair for solving technical challenges with high level tools, and a desire to work in a supportive, autonomous, and dynamic environment.

In the short term this will involve performance analysis in support of vehicle and engine trade studies for hypersonic air-breathing system architectures, including development, prototype, and product concepts. The SAPA function develops and maintains in-house methods and tools for performance analysis, and this role would suit an experienced engineer with a background in numerical methods, a strong foundation in fluids and thermodynamics, and good coding abilities.

To be successful you'll need:



• A Masters degree in a STEM subject
• In depth knowledge of thermodynamics, fluids, and heat transfer
• Experience in propulsion system / thermodynamic cycle modelling, or flight vehicle performance analysis
• Experience in numerical methods, and proficiency in scripting languages, including MATLAB
• A passion and flair for solving technical challenges with high level tools
• Excellent organisational skills, and the ability to communicate clearly including preparing, presenting, and reporting technical work to peers, seniors, external suppliers
• To thrive on and be motivated by technical and practical problem solving, independently with an enthusiastic approach
• To be able to work in a dynamic environment on several projects in parallel

Reaction Engines is committed to fairness and inclusivity. Research tells us that applicants tend to only apply when they feel they meet 100% of the criteria. If you believe you have what it takes and this role excites you, but you don’t align perfectly with the criteria listed, we encourage you to still apply. We’d love to have a discussion!

What we offer you



We have some fantastic benefits that sit alongside a great salary:

• The option to split your week between home and the office with our hybrid working model
• A 9-day Fortnight working pattern, with every other Friday off
• 28 days annual leave for full time employees (increasing to 30 after 2 years' service)
• A Company Share Option Plan
• A generous annual bonus
• Subsidised childcare at our onsite Nursery
• Life assurance of 3 x annual salary
• Family friendly policies, including a generous maternity leave package
• Long Service Awards
• A cycle to work scheme
• An employer matching pension of up to 5%
• A supportive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), including Health and Wellbeing discounts
• Opportunities to support our outreach goals and inspire the next generation
• An employee recognition scheme
• Annual Professional Membership

Salary: £40,000 to £60,000, depending on experience

Working hours: Full time, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements will be considered

Please find attached the full Job Description below