NITR JRF Mechanical Engineering Recruitment 2026

NITR JRF Mechanical Engineering Recruitment 2026: Overview

National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NITR) is engaging a Junior Research Fellow in Mechanical Engineering through its Sponsored Research, Industrial Consultancy and Continuing Education unit. The fellow will join the DRDO-backed project on designing and developing alternative air bearings for a high-speed Air Cycle Machine rotor used in the cold-air unit of aircraft. This is a focused aerospace-mechanical research assignment for candidates interested in gas bearings, rotor behaviour and experimental machine development.

The work combines analytical understanding with practical design and testing. You will contribute to design, development and experimentation involving gas bearings for Air Cycle Machines used in light combat aircraft, under the guidance of the named principal investigators in the Mechanical Engineering department.

Service Conditions and Caveats

• Project tenure: The appointment is purely temporary, contractual and co-terminus with the sponsored project. It does not create a right to a regular NITR position.
• Project horizon: The project is scheduled to continue until its notified completion point, but your engagement remains tied to project needs and funding. An earlier project closure would also end the appointment.
• GATE condition: A valid GATE score is mandatory for appointment as JRF. The notice says a candidate without a valid score may instead be considered for the lower Project Associate-I assistantship under the applicable DST rule.
• Academic threshold: The qualifying degree must meet the specified percentage or CGPA standard from a recognised technical institute or university. Check the threshold for your degree route before applying, because the postgraduate and undergraduate routes carry different benchmarks.
• Technical fit: Familiarity with 3D modelling software and MATLAB will help you contribute quickly. A sound base in machine design, mechanics of solids, bearing design, vibration and rotordynamics is also relevant to the project.
• Research setting: The work is based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NIT Rourkela. You should be comfortable moving between modelling, engineering calculations, laboratory development and experimental observation.
• Assessment format: The notified interaction is conducted online. Keep a reliable internet connection, your academic records and your GATE details ready if you are shortlisted.
• Notice reading: The project title, code, investigator contacts and appointment conditions are contained in the direct NITR notice. Use that notice as your final reference for any communication with the project team.

This role suits a mechanical engineer who wants hands-on research exposure in high-speed rotating systems rather than a general campus assignment. Your work will connect fundamental bearing and vibration concepts with an aircraft subsystem that demands stable, precise performance.

• Design alternative gas-bearing concepts for high-speed rotor systems
• Develop models and engineering drawings using suitable 3D software
• Run MATLAB calculations for bearing, vibration, and rotor behaviour
• Build and support experimental setups for air-bearing evaluation
• Record test observations and organise research data accurately
• Analyse results with the project investigators and refine designs
• Prepare technical notes, progress updates, and research outputs