RESEARCH ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - Spaceflight Mechanical Systems at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

The Mechanical Systems Group is composed of mechanical engineers, technicians, and drafters within the Department of Space Instruments and Payloads, and is responsible for the mechanical development of spaceflight instrumentation, structures, and avionics.

Objectives of this Role:

• Lead the design, analysis, and fabrication of cutting edge space instrumentation, mechanisms, and spacecraft hardware to enable the next generation of spaceflight exploration.
• Work in multidisciplinary project teams to support the full lifecycle of hardware development.
• Interface with customers, and support design reviews to justify design decisions.
• Support and lead R&D and promotional efforts to develop and implement new technologies.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Lead detailed design efforts using CAD for spaceflight technologies including sensors, mechanisms, and spacecraft.
• Perform structural and thermal analyses of flight hardware using finite element software and classical techniques.
• Lead supervision and fabrication efforts for spaceflight hardware.
• Test hardware to demonstrate instrument's robustness against the environmental conditions of launch and space.
• Propose and perform internal research to improve technology and establish competitive advantage.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors or a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• 2-8 years: Design experience with Computer Aided Design (CAD) software is required.
• 2-8 years: Analysis experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software is required.
• Experience in ANSYS Mechanical, Thermal Desktop, or NASTRAN is desired.
• Working knowledge of metallic and/or composite manufacturing processes for spaceflight applications is desired.
• Experience designing or building spaceflight hardware is desired.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.