Performance Specialist Engineer

Job Title: Performance Specialist Engineer

Working Pattern: Full-Time

Working location: Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid-3 days onsite on avg.)

As a Performance Specialist Engineer with Rolls-Royce, you will play a key role within cross-functional product teams engineering and designing innovative power and propulsion systems. This role will also require supporting customer engagements as it pertains to cycle and system level performance optimization.

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.

We’ll provide an environment of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. An inclusive, innovative culture that invests in you, gives 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 power and propulsion cycle analyses and performance predictions by utilizing computer simulations and engineering methods to satisfy an overall set of system requirements while taking into account steady state and transient performance considerations
• Exercising Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) models and training others with utilizing Thermodynamics principles, Test Analyses, and Whole Engine Sensitivities
• Understanding system level issues related to power and propulsion system designs, performance, operability and operation
• Creating innovative solutions to systems related to power conversion, aircraft propulsion system, and novel engineering challenges
• Influencing thermodynamic system cycles for optimization of an application using robust engineering techniques
• Supporting propulsion systems performance testing, publishing technical reports, and presentation of technical engineering analysis and results
• Presenting power and propulsion systems performance conclusions to customers and stakeholders, 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 behaviors that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor`s degree in Engineering, with 7+ years of experience in thermodynamics, gas dynamics, fluid mechanics and/or engine design; OR,
• A Master`s degree in Engineering, Physics or Mathematics with 5+ years of 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
• This position requires access to highly sensitive Rolls-Royce North American technical information; you must be eligible to obtain and maintain security clearance, which requires USA Citizenship

Preferred Requirements:

• Strong technical knowledge in design methodologies with an understanding of multi-discipline engineering concepts such as manufacturing engineering, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, thermal and mechanical analysis so as to meet manufacturer or government objectives of current and future technologies
• Ability to discern and adapt to the varying levels of fidelity required throughout the various stages of projects
• Object oriented experience simulating/modelling gas turbine cycles, hybrid electric systems, cycle analysis, engine operability, sizing and/or preliminary design analysis.  NPSS Experience in thermodynamic cycle modelling and proficiency in computer programming languages
• Authoritative knowledge of visualization techniques of statistical software tools.
• Knowledge of robust design techniques and principles
• A minimum collateral secret clearance or above is highly desired

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.

For fully remote roles, employees can live in any state except Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Relocation assistance is available for this opportunity, as applicable.

Global Grade/Level: Level C

Closing Date: 07/17/2026

#CLOLI

Mechanical Systems02 Jul 2026; 00:07$114,400 - $185,900-AnnuallyIndianapolis, 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.