Ceramicist

Job Description Summary

As a Lead Scientist specializing in advanced ceramic materials and coating systems, the successful candidate will lead research and development efforts focused on the design, optimization, and qualification of next-generation ceramic coatings with emphasis on thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems.
This role requires deep expertise in ceramic chemistry, coating architecture design, and high-temperature degradation mechanisms, with demonstrated experience developing advanced coating and an understanding in coating process.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Work with teams to lead early-stage research and applied initiatives in advanced ceramic coating systems, with emphasis on thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and related protective abradable, low-friction, wear, anti-corrosion, and environmental barrier coatings
• Design and optimize coating chemistries, including dopant selection, phase stabilization strategies, and compositional tailoring to enhance thermal stability, sintering resistance, toughness, and resistance to extreme environment
• Develop novel coating compositions for topcoats and bond coat-compatible systems suitable for extreme turbine operating temperatures
• Establish microstructure-property-performance relationships for coating systems under cyclic thermal and mechanical loading
• Evaluate coating degradation mechanisms, including phase transformation, thermally grown oxide (TGO) evolution, sintering behavior, and environmental attack
• Collaborate with process engineers to translate coating chemistry into scalable deposition methods (e.g., APS, SPS, EB-PVD, HVOF, VPS)
• Coordinate disruptive technology efforts in close collaboration with our GE Vernova businesses and ensure that such efforts are incorporated into long-term multi-generational technology and product road maps and plans
• Lead high-temperature testing programs (thermal cycling, burner rig testing, oxidation testing) to validate coating durability
• Drive innovation through publications, patents, and proposal development for internally and externally funded programs
• Identify and form collaborative relationships with academic, national laboratory, industry, government agencies and GE Vernova experts to leverage internal capability and increase impact
• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams (materials, mechanical design, manufacturing, and quality)

• PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or related discipline with at least 5 years of experience or Masters in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or related discipline with at least 7 years of experience

• Due to the nature of the duties of this position, this role requires the individual to be able to obtain and maintain US Government Security Clearance, a pre-requisite for a security clearance is US. Citizenship
• Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY

• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Designing and modifying ceramic coating chemistries
  • Phase equilibria, thermodynamics, and high-temperature kinetics of ceramic materials
  • High-temperature oxidation, corrosion, and environmental degradation mechanisms
• Strong background in microstructural characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, XRD, EBSD, EDS) and thermal/mechanical property evaluation
• Practical knowledge of safety practices as it relates to experimental design and lab practices
• Experience working with coating deposition technologies relevant to turbine components
• Proven record of technical leadership, publications, patents, or successful program execution
• Experience developing next-generation TBC chemistries beyond conventional systems. Very good understanding of thermodynamics, degradation kinetics, phase stability and diffusion in high temperature coating material systems
• Industry or applied research experience in ceramic coatings for gas turbine applications
• Familiarity with computational thermodynamics (CALPHAD) or materials modeling tools for coating design.
• Experience with writing winning proposals with U.S. government agencies such as DOE, ARPA-e, DOD, DARPA, etc.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills