Fluid Systems Engineer

Alexander Associates Limited; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexander Associates Limited is seeking a Fluid Systems Engineer for a hands-on role in developing spacecraft fluid systems and hardware at the Harwell site in the UK. You will take concepts from requirements through to manufacture, integration and testing, working with tight tolerances and cross-disciplinary teams.

We are especially keen on engineers with practical fluid systems experience across hydraulics, pneumatics, fuel systems or cryogenics who want to apply their skills to space

Qualifications

• 4–5+ years of engineering experience with fluid systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop fluid system architecture from requirements to prototype hardware.
• Perform calculations for pressure, flow and pressure drops.
• Select and integrate valves, regulators, pumps, tanks, piping and instrumentation.
• Develop and test prototype hardware and support manufacture and integration.
• Plan and conduct system and component testing and troubleshoot issues.
• Collaborate with mechanical, systems, test and other engineering disciplines.

Skills

Fluid systems

Pressure systems

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

Space hardware

Job description

Want to take your fluid systems experience and apply it to hardware that will actually operate in space?

We are supporting a growing space technology business at Harwell that is developing innovative spacecraft hardware for future in-orbit operations.

They are looking for a Fluid Systems Engineer to join their engineering team and take a hands‑on role in the development of fluid systems and hardware from initial requirements and design through to manufacture, integration and testing.

You do not need to already work in the space sector.

We're particularly interested in engineers from aerospace, propulsion, automotive, energy or other advanced engineering environments who have genuine experience designing and developing pressurised fluid systems and would like to bring that experience into the space industry.

What you'll be doing

You'll be involved across the engineering lifecycle, including:

• Fluid system architecture, design and development
• Requirements definition and engineering calculations
• Selection and integration of components such as valves, regulators, pumps, tanks, pipework/tubing and instrumentation
• Pressure, flow and pressure-drop calculations
• Supporting component specification and supplier selection
• Developing and testing prototype hardware
• Supporting manufacture, assembly and integration
• Planning and conducting system/component testing
• Troubleshooting and resolving hardware issues
• Working closely with mechanical, systems, test and other engineering disciplines

What we're looking for

Ideally you'll have around 4-5+ years relevant engineering experience and a strong practical understanding of fluid systems.

Experience could come from areas such as:

• Fluid systems
• Hydraulics
• Pneumatics
• Propulsion
• Fuel systems
• Thermal/fluid systems
• Pressure systems
• Gas handling
• Cryogenics
• Process systems

You’ll ideally be comfortable taking engineering problems from analysis and calculation into real, testable hardware.

Previous space-sector experience would obviously be useful, but it is not essential. We're much more interested in somebody who genuinely understands fluid systems and wants to apply that knowledge to spacecraft hardware.

This could be a particularly interesting opportunity for an engineer who has looked at the space sector from the outside and wondered how to make the move.

Please note: You'll need to be able to work in the UK and attend the Harwell site as required.