Hydrodynamics Research Officer

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the National Research Council (NRC). As Canada’s leading research and technology organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

The Role

We are looking for an early to mid-career Marine Hydrodynamics Research Officer to support our Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering (OCRE) research centre. The Marine Hydrodynamics Research Officer would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect, and Creativity.

The primary responsibility of the Marine Hydrodynamics Research Officer is to support the goals of NRC through the delivery of applied hydrodynamics research in the field of ocean and naval architecture, specifically supporting physical modelling campaigns on ships and marine structures in OCRE facilities (e.g., tow tank, offshore engineering basin, cavitation tunnel, ice tank). The incumbent will be responsible to engage with clients and collaborators to design and conduct experimental test programs, analyse results in accordance with recommended standards, and communicate results through technical reports and journal and conference manuscripts. They will assist in the design and optimization of marine systems, considering hull forms, propulsion systems, and stabilities. The incumbent will be expected to stay up to date with the state of the art in physical modelling techniques, tools/software, and their applications. The Marine Hydrodynamics Research Officer will work in a team environment with other researchers, engineers, and technical experts in world-class facilities. Activities also include the development of proposals for new research initiatives and client projects, project management, and representing NRC on national and international committees.

 Responsibilities / Key Activities:

• Physical model testing for ships and marine structures in open water
  • Support and/or lead physical modelling campaigns on ships and marine structures in OCRE facilities (e.g., tow tank, offshore engineering basin, cavitation tunnel, ice tank)
    • Design and conduct experimental test programs as per client requirements and analyze results in accordance with NRC standards, international standards and recommended procedures (e.g., ITTC, ISO, IMO)
  • Assist in the design and optimization of marine systems, considering hull forms, propulsion systems, and stabilities
  • Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and documentation to communicate experimental results, findings, and project progress
• Project management and/or technical lead 
• Represent NRC on national and international committees, as needed (e.g., ITTC, ISSC)
• Stay up-to-date with the state-of-the-art in physical modelling techniques, tools/software, and their applications to improve accuracies/reliabilities/competencies
• Support the Marine Performance & Evaluation team and other OCRE teams
• Contribute to the development of in-house standards 
• Familiarity with uncertainty analysis with respect to model tests 
• Engage with clients and collaborators.
   

Screening Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

PhD in Ocean and naval architectural engineering or relevant area of expertise. 

A combination of a Master’s Degree in Ocean and naval architectural Engineering combined with work experience in research or technology development would be considered as an equivalency.
 

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

1. Strong experience working with the principles of hydrodynamics applied to ocean and naval architectural engineering.
2. Experience in the evaluation of ship performance in open water through model scale experimental programs.
3. Experience with project management methods, practices, and tools.
4. Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams, and developing partnerships and collaborations.

The following experience is not essential but may be considered an asset:

• EXP 5: Experience in evaluating hydrodynamic performance of submarines or underwater vehicles or submersibles through model-scale experimental programs.
• EXP 6: Experience in evaluating ship performance in ice through model-scale experimental programs.
• EXP 7: Experience in conducting full-scale vessel trials and/or numerical simulations for evaluation of performance characteristics of marine vehicles and structures. 
• EXP 8: Experience using CFD software packages such as STAR-CCM+, ANSYS-Fluent and OpenFOAM and ship design packages or 3D CAD/modelling tools. 
• EXP 9: Experience in programming languages, such as Python, Java or MATLAB, for data analysis, pre/post processing, and automation.
• EXP 10: Experience managing effective working relationships between entities such as corporate and industry research organizations or institutes and other government agencies.

Condition of Employment

 Secret (II)

Language Requirements

English 

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical Competencies

1. Ability to develop and implement physical models tests for predicting the performance of marine vehicles and marine structures performance in open water, including:
   1. Design and execution of model-scale experimental campaigns in some of the following areas: resistance, propulsion and ship powering prediction; seakeeping; manoeuvring; cavitation and underwater radiated noise (URN) evaluation.
   2. Solid knowledge of similitude laws and scaling techniques, including for the modeling of waves.
   3. Familiarity with testing standards and recommended procedures (e.g., ITTC, IMO). 
   4. Familiarity with associated instrumentation, data collection, and analysis methods.
2. Demonstrated ability in developing technical reports, conference/journal manuscripts, and associated presentations in English.

Behavioural Competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Research

View all competency profiles

Compensation

This position is classified as a Research Officer (RO), a group that is unique to the NRC. Candidates are remunerated based on their expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level. The salary scale for this group is vast, from $63,470 to $179,422 per annum, which permits for employees of all levels from new graduates to world renowned experts to be fairly compensated for their contributions.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As such, the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• ​A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.