RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Mechanical Designer/Analyst for Propulsion Systems at 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.