Propulsion CFD/Thermal Engineer – Spacecraft Thrusters

Portal Space Systems; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Space Systems is hiring a Fluid/Thermal-focused Propulsion Engineer in Bothell, WA. You will advance thruster, feed system, and tank development with high fidelity CFD and thermal analyses, informing design trades from concept to flight hardware.

Qualifications include a mechanical or aerospace degree and demonstrated CFD experience; NX, STAR-CCM+, GFSSP, and Linux proficiency are preferred. This role emphasizes rigorous first-principles analysis and close collaboration with propulsion

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, related field or equivalent.
• Experience developing complex CFD models and reduced order fluid/thermal hand calcs.
• Experience communicating analysis assumptions, results, and design implications.

Responsibilities

• Develop high fidelity CFD models to support HEX Thruster and propellant tank development.
• Model complex fluid behavior, including multiphase flow, phase change, and conjugate heat transfer, and tank slosh.
• Build fluid network models of feed systems and utilize these for component sizing and controls development.
• Complete first order hand calcs for simple problems and quick answers.
• Support propulsion test campaigns with pre-test predictions, instrumentation planning, and post-test data reduction and model correlation.
• Predict transient temperature distributions internal to the HEX Thruster as driven by radiation in, re-radiation out, conduction internal to the thruster, and conduction to the bus.
• Identify and design thermal control approaches of the thruster, including radiation absorption design, re-radiation mitigation, and conduction paths

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

CFD modeling

First principles

Communication

Education

BSc/MSc in Mechanical or Aerospace Eng

Tools

NX

STAR-CCM+

GFSSP

Linux

Job description

Portal Space Systems is hiring a Fluid/Thermal-focused Propulsion Engineer in Bothell, WA. You will advance thruster, feed system, and tank development with high fidelity CFD and thermal analyses, informing design trades from concept to flight hardware.

Qualifications include a mechanical or aerospace degree and demonstrated CFD experience; NX, STAR-CCM+, GFSSP, and Linux proficiency are preferred. This role emphasizes rigorous first-principles analysis and close collaboration with propulsion