School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering - Faculty of EAIT
Full-time (100%), fixed-term position until 31 January 2027
Base salary will be in the range $83,698.91 - $111,431.10 + 17% super (Academic Level A)
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
Based at our St Lucia Campus - Brisbane
About This Opportunity
The University of Queensland’s Centre for Hypersonics is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow / Research Officer to contribute to a high-impact experimental and computational hypersonics research program. Working within a collaborative, ambitious and globally connected research environment, this role supports a US Air Force funded project focused on generating unique validation data for a novel air chemistry scheme under extreme hypersonic conditions. You will work with world-class facilities, including UQ’s X2 expansion tube, alongside leading researchers and international collaborators to deepen understanding of high-temperature gas behaviour relevant to hypersonic vehicles.
Key responsibilities will include:
Research: Conduct and supervise experimental campaigns using the X2 expansion tube, including driver and test condition design, advanced diagnostics, data analysis, and targeted facility upgrades. Perform hypersonic chemically reacting Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to support experimental design and interpretation and produce high-quality research outputs in leading outlets.
Supervision and Researcher Development: Contribute to the supervision and development of Honours and Higher Degree by Research students, fostering a positive, safe and high-performing research culture.
Citizenship and Service: Demonstrate UQ values through collaboration, participation in unit activities, internal service roles and the development of emerging external partnerships with industry, government and research organisations.
This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance
About You
You will bring curiosity, technical depth and a collaborative mindset, along with:
Completed or near completion of PhD in the field of experimental hypersonics or a closely related field, with emphasis on high-enthalpy flows.
Demonstrated experience conducting experiments on medium and/or large-scale hypersonic test facilities and analysing facility diagnostic data.
Expertise in advanced hypersonic diagnostic techniques, including setup, operation and upgrade.
Capability in designing driver and test conditions for impulse facilities and applying engineering design principles to facility development.
Experience performing hypersonic chemically reacting CFD and interpreting results to generate physical insight.
A developing publication record in high-quality outlets and willingness to contribute to competitive research funding applications.
Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary, international research team.
Commitment to a positive safety culture and alignment with UQ’s values.
About UQ
As part of the UQ community, you will work alongside some of the world’s brightest minds in an environment that is visionary, inquisitive and deeply collaborative. UQ is a Group of Eight university, internationally recognised for research excellence and impact. We provide access to world-class research infrastructure, grant development support and meaningful opportunities to translate research into real-world outcomes.
The benefits of joining UQ are broad and include up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements, recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, access to exclusive internal-only opportunities, and genuine career progression through the academic promotions process.
Interested?
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Chris James via c.james4@uq.edu.auFor application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number in the subject line.
When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume, cover letter, and responses to the ‘About You’ section
Other Information
Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, criminal history checks, and other integrity and conduct requirements as relevant.
You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.
We are dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We are also happy to support accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact talent@uq.edu.au or call +61 7 3365 2623 for assistance.
Applications close on Monday, 1 June 2026 at 11.00pm AEST (R-65133)
