Aerospace Thermal Engineer — Propulsion & Heat Transfer

Analytical Mechanics Associates Inc.; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is seeking engineers in Hampton, VA to support NASA research on aerothermodynamics, materials and propulsion analyses. You will interface with NASA affiliates and teams across government, academia, and industry on national and international programs.

Responsibilities include external flow analyses, heat transfer for propulsion systems, and design guidance for thermal protection and materials. Proficiency with Python and modeling tools is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Materials Engineering, Thermal Sciences, Physics, or a relevant technical discipline.
• Demonstrated use of Pointwise, GridPro, HeldenMesh and Tecplot.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermal control principle
• Experience conducting thermal and power balance of propulsion systems, including heat exchanger design, propellant feed and pressurization systems, and thermal analysis
• Experience performing ground tests including those in conventional supersonic/hypersonic aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic wind tunnels, true-enthalpy propulsion blow-down and pulse-type test facilities.
• Experience with Python programming or similar.
• Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite of tools
• US citizenship is required; US Persons permissible for some positions.

Responsibilities

• Perform external flow analyses for determining aerothermodynamic loads on spacecraft, re-entry vehicles, high-speed aircraft, wind tunnel models, and other research platforms.
• Perform heat transfer analysis for propulsion systems, payloads, fluid transport, and actively cooled systems.
• Apply analysis results to the design of leading edges, thermal protection systems, heat mitigation strategies, and materials selection.
• Predict thermal instrumentation responses (thermocouples, heat flux sensors, and radiometers), integrate experimental results with models to characterize thermal environments.
• Identify, develop, and design, advanced high-temperature thermal protection materials, with use of additive manufacturing techniques.
• Generate assembly/integration and test procedures
• Prepare and present technical reports, engineering analyses, and project briefings to management and stakeholders.

Skills

Pointwise

GridPro

HeldenMesh

Tecplot

Python programming

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Thermal control

Office suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or Materials Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

ANSYS

MATLAB

Job description

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is seeking engineers in Hampton, VA to support NASA research on aerothermodynamics, materials and propulsion analyses. You will interface with NASA affiliates and teams across government, academia, and industry on national and international programs.

Responsibilities include external flow analyses, heat transfer for propulsion systems, and design guidance for thermal protection and materials. Proficiency with Python and modeling tools is highly valued.