ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - Mechanical Engineer - Propulsion & Energy Systems at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

The Propulsion & Energy Machinery Section performs engineering R&D in the fields of industrial heat and power, liquid propulsion, gas turbine combustion, and air-breathing propulsion. Our technologies are powering a cleaner future and advancing state-of-the-art propulsion 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, 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 analytical and experimental support to more than one project in a team environment. Typical tasks include literature reviews, design, analysis, and simulation development.
• Use commercial engineering software for design and analysis, such as ANSYS Workbench or ANSYS APDL.
• 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. Support 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.
• Perform mechanical design tasks at the direction of senior engineers in support of projects/proposal efforts.
• Be a problem solver that exercises creativity and judgment to help a team of engineers determine new approaches to solve a wide range of technical problems.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors or a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering degree.
• 0-5 years: Mechanical design experience applying tools like FEA to predict component/assembly stresses and evaluate fitness for service.
• 0-5 years: Design, commissioning, and testing experience with high pressure and/or extreme temperature (cryogenic or combustion) process systems, automotive projects or aerospace projects.
• 0-5 years: Experience with industry standards, such as ASME Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31 Piping Codes, machine assembly, maintenance, and repair.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.