CDN Module Leader

Job Description SummaryAbout GE Aerospace
Are you ready to see your future take flight? At GE Aerospace, we are advancing aviation technologies for today and tomorrow. Your work will contribute to the production of advanced jet engines, components, and integrated systems that power commercial and military aircraft. You’ll be part of a team that embraces your drive, curiosity, and unique ideas. Most importantly, you will share in our pride and purpose that affects the lives of millions around the world!
About this Position
The Emerging Technologies (ET) team, comprised of Small Uncrewed Engines (SUE), Hypersonics and AI innovations for Defense and Systems is seeking a skilled CDN Module Leader to join our fast-paced and high energy team. The CDN Module leader owns the combustor module architecture and design for limited-life propulsion engines, driving the module from conceptual design through qualification. This role leads cross-site teams (Florida and Evendale) to deliver safe, high-quality, on-time, and cost-effective combustor designs that meet mission profiles and program objectives.

Job DescriptionKey Responsibilities

• Module Ownership (Concept to Qualification): Lead combustor architecture, requirements flow-down, design trades, and verification plans from concept, preliminary and detailed design, to rig/engine qualification.
• Combustor Design & Analysis: Define liner/dome/swirler geometry; fuel nozzle integration; dilution and cooling schemes; flame stability; emissions; pattern factor; pressure loss; and life-limited feature design.
• Thermal & Structural Integrity: Own thermal management (film cooling, convective cooling, TBC application), stress and life assessments (LCF/HCF/thermo-mechanical), creep/oxidation margins, and limited-life retirement rules.
• Fuel & Controls Integration: Coordinate with fuel system and controls teams on nozzle selection, flow splits, atomization, ignition, light-off, stability maps, and transient operability.
• Manufacturability & Materials: Drive DFM for combustor components (liners, domes, diffusers, mounts); material selection (superalloys, coatings/TBCs); joining methods (weld/braze); and supplier readiness.
• Testing & Qualification: Plan and oversee rig tests (sector/full-annular) and engine tests; define instrumentation; analyze data; correlate models; and compile qualification evidence with clear acceptance criteria.
• Integration & V&V: Lead DFMEA/FMECA, requirements traceability, hazard analysis, and RCCA; ensure robust interfaces with compressor, turbine, fuel system, and mechanical mounts.
• Program Execution: Build and manage schedules, risks, and design gates; coordinate resources across Florida and Evendale; manage suppliers; support proposals and design-to-cost trades for limited-life missions.
• Leadership & Mentoring: Provide day-to-day technical leadership, set clear work statements, review designs/analyses, mentor early-career engineers, and foster continuous improvement by following FLIGHT DECK standards.
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure configuration control, drawing/spec quality, and adherence to applicable standards, export control, and safety requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering (MS preferred). Minimum of 5 years' experience in combustor design for gas turbines or small propulsion systems; track record from concept through qualification.
• Technical Depth: Expertise in combustor aerothermal design, emissions, flame stability, film cooling, structural/thermal life analyses, and limited-life strategies.
• Leadership & Communication: Strong cross-functional leadership with multi-site teams (Florida and Evendale), supplier engagement, and clear communication of decisions, risks, and trade-offs.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required.  We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.

Desired Characteristics:

• Tools: Proficiency with CAD/PLM, aerothermal/CFD tools, FEA for thermo-mechanical analysis, requirements management, and test data analysis
• 10 years of module ownership of combustors

Success Metrics (SQDC)

• Safety: Robust hazard analyses; no safety escapes; validated ignition/stability margins and thermal protections.
• Quality: First-time-right design reviews; correlation of rig/engine test data to predictions; fully met qualification criteria.
• Delivery: On-time passage through design gates; rig/engine test readiness and execution as scheduled.
• Cost: Achieve design-to-cost targets via limited-life optimization, efficient cooling strategies, and supplier/process choices.

Role Interfaces

• Internal: Compressor/turbine teams, fuel & controls, thermal/fluids, stress/structures, manufacturing, test & instrumentation, reliability.
• External: Fuel nozzle and combustor component suppliers; customers/airframers for mission and interface alignment.

Why Join Us

• Impactful ownership: Lead a core propulsion module from concept to qualification on agile, limited-life engine programs.
• Cross-site leadership: Collaborate across Florida and Evendale, gaining broad exposure and influence.
• Grow and mentor: Shape technical direction, mentor talent, and drive continuous improvement in a high-performance team.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional Information