Integrated Thermal Reduced Order Modeling and Model Based Safety Assessment for Early-Stage Aerospace and Space System Design

The High Reliability Aerospace Design Lab and the Aircraft Systems Lab invite applications for funded postdoctoral, PhD, and MASc positions starting in 2026 in the area of thermally informed model-based safety assessment for aerospace and space systems. The project is conducted in collaboration with Maya HTT and focuses on integrating thermal reduced order models with model-based safety assessment for early-stage aerospace system design.

This research addresses a major challenge in aerospace and space engineering: thermal behavior and safety assessment are often performed separately, leading to conservative margins, costly redesigns, and delayed qualification activities. The objective is to develop and validate a unified framework coupling thermal reduced order modeling with model-based safety assessment to evaluate how thermal effects influence degradation, reliability, and fault propagation during early design stages.
The methodology will be demonstrated on an industrial space propulsion application involving a Liquid Injection Thrust Vector Control system. The project combines digital engineering, thermal simulation, reliability engineering, and safety critical aerospace system analysis within an industrially relevant framework.

Candidate Profiles

Postdoctoral Fellow - The postdoctoral fellow will lead the development and validation of thermal reduced order models and their integration into industrial digital engineering workflows. Strong expertise in one or more of the following areas is required: thermal modeling, reduced-order modeling, multiphysics simulation, numerical methods, aerospace systems.

PhD Student – The PhD student will develop thermally aware model-based safety assessment methodologies, including degradation modeling, AltaRica 3.0 safety modeling, and coupling of physics based and safety assessment models.

MASc Students - MASc students will contribute to system modeling, validation activities, simulation studies, and application of the framework to industrial aerospace and space system case studies.

Required Background

Candidates should have strong backgrounds in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, reliability engineering, or related disciplines. Strong analytical and programming skills are required. Experience in simulation, safety assessment, or model-based engineering is an asset.

The project is conducted within the High Reliability Aerospace Design Lab and the Aircraft Systems Lab at Concordia University in close collaboration with Maya HTT. Trainees will benefit from direct interaction with industrial engineers and exposure to industrial tool chains.

Preference will be given to applicants eligible for Canadian funding schemes.

Application Procedure

The position is planned for Fall 2026. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

To apply, email a motivation letter, CV, and transcript to Dr. Jonathan Liscouët and Dr. Susan Liscouët-Hanke (jonathan.liscouet@concordia.ca, susan.liscouet-hanke@concordia.ca). Candidates should indicate the position they are applying for in the subject line of the email using one of the following formats:

• PDF Application – Thermal MBSA Project
• PhD Application – Thermal MBSA Project
• MASc Application – Thermal MBSA Project

Equity, diversity, and inclusion
Applicants from underrepresented groups in engineering and candidates with nonstandard academic pathways are encouraged to apply. A one-page explanatory statement may be included if relevant.