ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Fluids Engineering Dept. Experimental Engineer

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX seeks an engineering professional to provide hands-on support for fluid systems research. You will design and operate experimental testing programs, create field-realistic conditions, and lead laboratory projects.

Responsibilities include data acquisition, instrument selection, post-processing results, and reporting; interact with government and industry clients; develop innovative solutions across energy-water challenges.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience with lab testing or data acquisition.
• Ability to communicate complex information and work in a team.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW or similar controls software.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate experimental testing programs with realistic process conditions.
• Conduct laboratory research on fluid systems at oil, water, gas facilities.
• Implement data acquisition, control systems, and instrumentation.
• Manage projects and document findings; present reports and papers.
• Interact with clients to develop solutions and write proposals.
• Learn new skills and balance multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Data analysis

Experimentation

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

SolidWorks

Creo

ANSYS

Fluent

Excel VBA

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Who We Are:

We solve complex fluids problems to help society gain access to energy and water. Mutual respect and collaboration define our culture, where the sharing of knowledge and the drive for excellence are pervasive. Safety is a top priority and is integrated in every operation.

Objectives of this Role:

Provide engineering support for research projects on fluid systems and fluid handling equipment. Topics include oil and gas equipment testing, erosion testing, methane mitigation, carbon sequestration, and alternative energy. Design, build, and operate experimental testing programs that create field-realistic process flow conditions (pressure, temperature, fluids) in controlled test environments. Lead experimental research projects in a laboratory setting. Develop innovative solutions for commercial and government clients on the world's challenges in the energy-water nexus.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

Conduct experimental laboratory research for complex fluid flow systems at existing oil, water, gas, and particle multiphase flow facilities and other specialized temporary test setups. Implement data acquisition and control systems, select and install various instruments, operate test facilities, and perform tasks confidently under customer observation. Manage research projects and document findings. Post-process test data; and present reports and technical papers. Manage the technical and financial performance of projects. Learn and apply new skills in a fast-paced research environment led by pursuit of industry's most pressing engineering challenges. Interact and engage with commercial and government clients to develop solutions that fit their requirements, attend conferences, create promotional material, bid new projects, and write proposals.

Requirements:

Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, or directly related degree field. 0 years: Understanding and knowledge in one of these fields: Oil and gas industry, greenhouse gas mitigation, alternative energy, water management, or similar energy related field. Hands-on experience with experimental methods (e.g., lab testing, data acquisition) or facility operation in an engineering context. Must possess strong interpersonal and team skills and the ability to effectively communicate complex information. Must have the willingness and ability to learn new technical skills and have the ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize work. Experience with one or more of the following: LabVIEW programming or similar data acquisition and controls experience, modeling in SolidWorks/Creo/Ansys/Fluent, or programming using Excel VBA/MathCAD/Matlab/Python is required. A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

Must be a U.S. person (i.e., U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) due to ITAR work in section.

Job Locations:

San Antonio, Texas

Equal Employment Opportunity:

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.