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Southwest Research Institute · 4 months ago

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

San Antonio, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

5+ years exp

Southwest Research Institute is a leader in liquid propulsion systems research and development. The role involves designing, analyzing, and testing liquid propulsion flight systems, while collaborating with diverse teams and managing propulsion system development for satellite systems.

Innovation ManagementMarket ResearchMechanical EngineeringNon ProfitProduct Research

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

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 diverse 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

Occasionally participate in design, analysis, and testing for other fluid, thermal, and machinery projects

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-the-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

Qualification

Propulsion system designFluidThermal analysisExperimental testingComputational fluid dynamicsMechanical designTeam collaborationTechnical writingProblem solvingProject management

Required

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

A valid/clear driver's license is required

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