A pilot fuel injector (238; 338; 438; 538; 638) for a combustor (42; 200) of a gas turbine engine , the pilot fuel injector comprising: a swirler (134; 246; 346; 446) having an exit into a combustion chamber (108; 208) of the combustor; and a nozzle (248; 348; 448; 548) located within the swirler, the nozzle defining a nozzle axis (Z) and having: a primary fuel circuit configured to atomize fuel dispensed therethrough; and a secondary fuel circuit having a first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) having at least one injection aperture (364a; 464a) located at a first injection depth (D 1 ) from the exit of the swirler and a second sub-circuit (366; 466; 566) having at least one second injection aperture (366a; 466a) located at a second injection depth (D 2 ) from the exit of the swirler, wherein the first injection depth (D 1 ) is greater than the second injection depth (D 2 ); wherein the swirler (134; 246; 346; 446) dispenses air in a swirler direction; characterized in that the apertures (364a; 464a) of the first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) are oriented to dispense fuel in a direction circumferentially relative to the nozzle axis (Z) and the direction of orientation of the apertures (364a; 464a) of the first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) is directed in a direction opposite the swirler direction; and in that the apertures (366a; 466a) of the second sub-circuit (366; 466; 566) are oriented to dispense fuel in a direction circumferentially relative to the nozzle axis (Z) and in a direction that is the same as the swirler direction. a swirler (134; 246; 346; 446) having an exit into a combustion chamber (108; 208) of the combustor; and a nozzle (248; 348; 448; 548) located within the swirler, the nozzle defining a nozzle axis (Z) and having: a primary fuel circuit configured to atomize fuel dispensed therethrough; and a secondary fuel circuit having a first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) having at least one injection aperture (364a; 464a) located at a first injection depth (D 1 ) from the exit of the swirler and a second sub-circuit (366; 466; 566) having at least one second injection aperture (366a; 466a) located at a second injection depth (D 2 ) from the exit of the swirler, wherein the first injection depth (D 1 ) is greater than the second injection depth (D 2 ); a primary fuel circuit configured to atomize fuel dispensed therethrough; and a secondary fuel circuit having a first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) having at least one injection aperture (364a; 464a) located at a first injection depth (D 1 ) from the exit of the swirler and a second sub-circuit (366; 466; 566) having at least one second injection aperture (366a; 466a) located at a second injection depth (D 2 ) from the exit of the swirler, wherein the first injection depth (D 1 ) is greater than the second injection depth (D 2 ); wherein the swirler (134; 246; 346; 446) dispenses air in a swirler direction; characterized in that the apertures (364a; 464a) of the first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) are oriented to dispense fuel in a direction circumferentially relative to the nozzle axis (Z) and the direction of orientation of the apertures (364a; 464a) of the first sub-circuit (364; 464; 564) is directed in a direction opposite the swirler direction; and in that the apertures (366a; 466a) of the second sub-circuit (366; 466; 566) are oriented to dispense fuel in a direction circumferentially relative to the nozzle axis (Z) and in a direction that is the same as the swirler direction. <EOS>