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Research Scientist (Cold Spray) - Mechanical, Aerospace, & Biomedical Engineering, Tickle College of Engineering: UTK

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Position Number: 6507379
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Position Type: Engineering - Mechanical

Research Scientist (Cold Spray) - Mechanical, Aerospace, & Biomedical Engineering, Tickle College of Engineering: UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 4716
Job Category: Research
Posting Date: 08/22/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 1506 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

Job Description
The Research Scientist will advance cold spray deposition science and technology, supporting the Department of Defense-funded initiatives in areas such as structural repair and expeditionary manufacturing. The position involves process development, material compatibility studies, performance validation, and integration of CSAM components into defense platforms. This role will also represent the University of Tennessee in collaborations with government and industry partners, mentor students, manage cold spray infrastructure, and contribute to the technical leadership of the UT Defense Research Center. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

Responsibilities
The Research Scientist will be responsible for the following:

Designing and executing experiments to evaluate cold spray deposition performance across metals, polymers, spatially graded, and hybrid material systems.
Optimizing spray parameters for both high- and low-pressure systems to achieve robust bonding, dimensional accuracy, and repeatability.
Characterizing as-sprayed materials and build quality using microscopy, profilometry, ultrasonic inspection, and mechanical evaluation.
Studying particle-substrate interactions, critical velocity behavior, and deposition efficiency across various feedstock types and substrates.
Conducting post-process evaluations to assess performance metrics including adhesion, wear resistance, fatigue, and environmental durability.
Implementing and refining in-situ monitoring tools to measure particle velocity, substrate temperature, and deposition rate.
Developing models and data-driven methods to correlate process parameters with deposition quality and performance.
Support efforts in developing process qualification pathways and performance benchmarks for CSAM parts.
Mentoring students, technicians, and DoD collaborators in cold spray system operation, safety, experimental design, and data analysis.
Providing technical instruction on cold spray system capabilities, maintenance, and safe laboratory practices.
Overseeing the operation and maintenance of cold spray systems and supporting characterization tools.
Leading and supporting manufacturing demonstrations and development efforts with DoD and industry partners.
Hosting facility tours, technical briefings, and collaborative engagements with external stakeholders and sponsors.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

Education: Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or job-related Engineering disciplines
Experience: 3 years of experience in cold spray additive manufacturing and repair
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of operation and ability to use cold spray for part production, repair, and experiments for model development. Ability to use and interpret results of measurements performed during operations and post characterization. Technical writing skills for proposals, reports, and manuscript preparation. Strong interpersonal and collaborative relationship skills are needed for success in this role.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education: Doctoral Degree in Mechanical Engineering or job-related Engineering disciplines
Experience: 1 year or more experience in CNC machining. 1 year or more experience with structured light scanners, coordinate measuring machines, optical profilometers.1 year or more experience with other additive manufacturing processes for metals, polymers, or ceramics.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge and operation of materials characterization techniques such as optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, EBSD, XRD, microhardness testing, and mechanical evaluation (tensile, compression, fatigue). Knowledge of operation and ability to use CNC machining for part production and experiments. Knowledge of operation and ability to use wire electrical discharge machining for part production. Knowledge of operation and ability to use and interpret results of measurements performed using structured light scanners, coordinate measuring machines, optical profilometers. Knowledge of operation and ability to use of other additive manufacturing techniques and in-situ monitoring for metal and hybrid materials components. Ability to perform experiments for model development

Work Location:

Location: Knoxville, TN
Onsite

Compensation and Benefits:

UT market range: MR13
Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials.

Resume
Cover Letter
List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division:

The Tickle College of Engineering is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success including adding over 30 new faculty as part of ambitious cluster hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. Since 2021, the college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building which houses UTK's Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF). TCE currently has 208 Tenure/Tenure Track and 65 Non-Tenure Track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 13 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF, DoE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY24, the college had NSF HERD research expenditures of $121 million.

About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

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