ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Propulsion System Engineer

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute seeks a propulsion engineer to design, analyze and test liquid propulsion systems for satellite programs. You will participate in all life-cycle stages from concept to delivery, working with experts across feedlines, pressurization, and engine nozzles.

Strong emphasis on experiments, data analysis, and technical reporting. Required are a mechanical or aerospace background and up to 5 years of propulsion experience, plus skills in CAD/analysis tools like SolidWorks,

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; masters/PhD preferred.
• 0-5 years: propulsion system design, analysis, assembly, integration and testing.
• 0-5 years: fluid and thermal analyses using CFD or flow networks.
• 0-5 years: propulsion/system experimental testing experience.
• Familiar with LabVIEW, SolidWorks, ANSYS; driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to propulsion system design, analysis, assembly and testing for satellite systems.
• Perform design and analysis using engineering software and in-house tools.
• Support experimental testing of propulsion and related systems.
• Interpret and present findings to project teams and clients clearly.
• Work on multiple projects in a multidisciplinary, flexible environment.

Skills

Propulsion design

Thermal analysis

Experimental testing

Technical reporting

LabVIEW

ANSYS

SolidWorks

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Masters or PhD preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

LabVIEW

Python

CFD

Job description

Who We Are:The Liquid Propulsion Team performs R&D to solve challenges and advance technology in liquid propulsion systems. We perform design, analysis, testing, and hardware delivery for launch, landing, lunar, and orbital vehicles. We do component design (PMDs/LADs, vortex breakers, tank baffles, etc.) and system level design, procurement, AI&T, and delivery. Our range of applications cover ground equipment to vehicles, high-g to 0-g, and supercritical to cryogenic conditions. Our programs have culminated in rocket launches, Mach 6 flight, and landing on the moon!

Who We Are:The Liquid Propulsion Team performs R&D to solve challenges and advance technology in liquid propulsion systems. We perform design, analysis, testing, and hardware delivery for launch, landing, lunar, and orbital vehicles. We do component design (PMDs/LADs, vortex breakers, tank baffles, etc.) and system level design, procurement, AI&T, and delivery. Our range of applications cover ground equipment to vehicles, high-g to 0-g, and supercritical to cryogenic conditions. Our programs have culminated in rocket launches, Mach 6 flight, and landing on the moon!

Objectives of this Role:

• Design, analysis, assembly, integration, testing, and delivery of liquid propulsion flight systems.
• Participate at all levels including proposal and execution of flight hardware systems.
• Solve challenges on components and/or systems that span between the pressurant tanks, through pressurization systems, into the propellant tanks, down the feedlines, combustion, and finally out the engine nozzles.
• Work on multidisciplinary and flexible teams with our experts in feedline and pogo instability, slosh dynamics and control, microgravity propellant management, thermal management, pressurization modeling, and combustion.
• Write technical reports, papers, proposals, and presentations to support client deliverables, technical professional organizations and SwRI business development.
• We empower each other towards research areas of interest and career growth.
• Occasionally participate in design, analysis, and testing for other fluid, thermal, and machinery projects.
• Technical areas include power generation systems, energy storage, advanced cycles, and turbomachinery design and testing.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Be a key contributor on technical execution for propulsion system development and delivery for satellite systems. Design, analysis, procurement, AI&T, performance testing, delivery and in-service operation tasks will be included.
• Perform design and analysis tasks for fluid, thermal, and machinery projects using engineering software, self-created analytical toolsets, and existing knowledge from engineering standards, technical literature, and industry techniques.
• Perform experimental testing and support for both component-level and system-level testing of propulsion, energy, and combustion machinery.
• Perform engineering and scientific research and investigations to support projects and advance the state-of-the-art.
• Interpret and present findings and results to project team and clients in a concise and clear way.
• Provide support to more than one project in a flexible and multidisciplinary team environment.
• Have and demonstrate a firm grasp of engineering and scientific disciplines and applied first principles.
• Learn new technical skills to complete project work.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering degree. Masters and PhD's preferred.
• 0-5 years: Conducting propulsion system design, analysis, assembly, integration and testing of flight hardware programs. Participation in the entire life cycle: concept, design, procurement, assembly and testing.
• 0-5 years: Conducting fluid and thermal system analyses using commercial or custom software, such as flow network, computational fluid dynamics, or mechanical analysis solvers. Firm understanding of the underlying physics of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, aerodynamics, or heat transfer.
• 0-5 years: Experimental test experience of propulsion and other fluid and thermal systems; including, designing, building, commissioning, operating, and analyzing data. Also familiar with common flight launch and range safety requirements and acceptance/qualification procedures.
• Range safety; cryogenics; microgravity fluids; GNC familiarity; mechanical design and fabrication; computational programing/scripting; LabVIEW, PID control and data acquisition; SolidWorks; ANSYS products experience preferred.
• A valid/clear driver\'s license is required.

Special Requirements:Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen. Job Locations: San Antonio, Texas