What are the responsibilities and job description for the RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Mechanical Designer for Propulsion Systems position 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 Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related engineering degree. 1 yr experience required with MS degree, 0 yr 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:
Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.
