RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Liquid Propulsion Systems Engineer

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute seeks an experienced engineer in San Antonio, Texas, to join the Liquid Propulsion Team. The ideal candidate will design, analyze, and deliver liquid propulsion flight systems, managing various projects from conception to testing. A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, along with at least 5 years of relevant experience in propulsion system design and analysis, is required. Additional experience with software tools such as SolidWorks and ANSYS is desirable.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in propulsion system design, analysis, assembly, and testing.
• 5+ years conducting fluid and thermal system analysis with commercial software.
• 2+ years of experimental testing experience of propulsion systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and deliver liquid propulsion flight systems.
• Manage programs for propulsion system development.
• Perform experimental testing and support for component-level testing.
• Write reports and presentations to support technical deliverables.

Skills

Propulsion system design

Fluid dynamics

Thermal system analysis

Engineering software proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

LabVIEW

Job description

18-01612

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.
• Participate in design, analysis, and testing for other fluid, thermal, and machinery projects as needed.
• Technical areas include power generation systems, energy storage, advanced cycles, and turbomachinery design and testing.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Be a key contributor and assist in managing programs 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‑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 diverse 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.
• 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. Experience in execution and management of tasks/phases/programs is desired.
• 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.
• 2 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.
• Desired experience, but not required: engineering MS or PhD degrees; range safety; cryogenics; microgravity fluids; GNC familiarity; mechanical design and fabrication; computational programming/scripting; LabVIEW, PID control and data acquisition; SolidWorks; ANSYS products.
• 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.

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