RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Mechanical Designer/Analyst for Propulsion Systems
Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

The Propulsion & Energy Machinery Section performs engineering R&D in the fields of gas turbine combustion, air-breathing propulsion, industrial heat and power, and liquid propulsion. Our technologies are powering a cleaner future and advancing state-of-the-art propulsion systems for air and space flight.

Objectives of this Role:

• Support the design, analysis, and testing of systems and components used in a variety of propulsion and energy processes.
• Typical application areas include: supercritical CO2 oxy-fuel combustion systems, gas turbine combustion systems, and launch vehicle components.
• Apply principles of machine design, piping/pressure vessel design, process controls and instrumentation, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer to develop test systems and specify components.
• Many systems operate at extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
• Apply knowledge of fabrication methods, assembly, and geometric dimensioning & tolerance (GD&T) to ensure components are designed in a way that can be manufactured and assembled.
• Utilize CAD software (Solidworks) to develop mechanical designs and visualize component fitments and assemblies.
• Communicate ideas, results, and other information to coworkers as well as commercial and government clients.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Provide design, analytical, and experimental support to more than one project in a team environment.
• Typical tasks include research, design, analysis, and simulation development. Use commercial engineering software such as ANSYS Workbench or APDL for design and analysis.
• Provide mechanical and machine design support for a variety of applications that include power generation, propulsion, and combustion.
• As needed, work across the Institute to draw on the experience from thousands of engineers and technicians.
• Contribute and be responsible for technical development of experimental test programs, including developing/operating a new test rig.
• Take responsibility for testing/rig modifications to meet new project objectives. Direct the technical work of other engineers and technicians.
• Assess the best approach to solve problems and interrogate results for reliability.
• Provide troubleshooting support for tests and simulations with a firm understanding of theories and concepts using a first-principles approach.
• Act as the primary technical lead for mechanical designs and guide technical direction of other engineers for projects/proposal efforts.
• Be a problem solver that exercises creativity and independent judgement in determining approaches to solve a wide range of technical problems.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors, Masters or a PhD in Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering degree.
• 0 years experience required with PhD in relevant areas.
• 2-5 years: Mechanical design experience applying tools like FEA to predict component/assembly stresses and evaluate fitness for service.
• 2-5 years: Design, commissioning, and testing experience with high pressure and/or extreme temperature (cryogenic or combustion) process systems.
• 2-5 years: Experience with industry standards, such as ASME Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31 Piping Codes, machine assembly, maintenance, and repair.
• MS or PhD degrees in engineering are preferred, but not 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

For more information about this division, visit the Mechanical Engineering home page.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here.
For benefits information at all other locations, click here.

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disabled/Veteran
Committed to Diversity in the Workplace

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