The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia is 
seeking qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in a 
newly established PSAAP IV predictive simulation center—Center for Stochastic 
Simulations of Ablative Geometries with Error-Learning in Space and Time 
(SAGEST). 

Research at the Center is focused on supercomputer simulations of extreme 
conditions experienced by hypersonic vehicles and quantifying the overall 
uncertainty. The candidate will assume the role of a software developer in the 
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Propulsion Laboratory, a participating 
lab in the Center. The Research Associate will be responsible for the 
development and maintenance of predictive software components, support 
integration into the full system, and assist with full-system testing and 
analysis. The candidate can expect to work with a multidisciplinary and multi-
university team involving engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians 
constructing a full-system package comprising predictive software, data 
analytics, and machine learning. The candidate will work closely with and report 
to the Software Architect of the research Center led by Dr. Xinfeng Gao.

As a software developer, the candidate must work closely with the Software 
Architect in developing and implementing plans for integrating software 
libraries performing I/O, adaptive mesh-refinement, data assimilation, and AI/ML 
in a manner that supports the participation of graduate students. The candidate 
may be expected to mentor PhD students in aspects of software development and 
usage.

Qualification Requirements: The candidate must have a PhD degree in Mechanical 
and Aerospace Engineering, or another related field by the start date, and 
research experience in computational engineering.

Preferred Requirements: The candidate must be able to demonstrate a deep 
knowledge of supercomputing software development for massively-parallel computer 
architectures, and expertise in working with large-scale software designed for 
cutting-edge engineering applications. Additional requirements include 
proficiency with C++ and parallel programming models, experience developing 
complex simulation software as part of a multidisciplinary team, familiarity 
with best practices in software engineering, and efficacy at communicating and 
planning with computer-facility technical staff. Experience with algorithms for 
hydrodynamic-scale CFD or kinetic-scale particle methods such as Direct 
simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) is preferred.

This position requires the candidate to be a U.S. citizen.

The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, with a 
starting base salary of $86,000/year. There will be a $3K relocation/start-up 
bonus.

Application Procedure: Apply online at UVA job board and search for R0077534. 
Attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three 
references. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on October 30, 2025, but 
the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform 
background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

This is a one-year appointment, and the appointment may be renewed contingent 
upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Xinfeng Gao, Professor, 
at x.gao@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Richard Haverstrom, 
Academic Recruiter, at rkh6j@virginia.edu.

For more information on the benefits available to Research Associate at UVA, 
visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested 
persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with 
disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-
discrimination and equal opportunity employment.