ENGINEER - RESEARCH ENGINEER - High Temperature Materials and Mechanical Testing at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

Join our Mechanics & Materials team performing advanced materials research to solve our clients’ most challenging technical problems in aerospace and high-temperature composite materials. This position will support senior staff members and ongoing programs to further understand the process-to-performance characteristics of composite materials used in high temperature aerospace applications, including hypersonic flight. The position will be highly experimental and hands-on with characterizing the mechanical performance of composite materials.

Objectives of this Role:

• Conduct innovative material characterization and testing of high temperature composite materials by applying knowledge of material constituents, construction and fabrication, and mechanical behavior.
• Apply knowledge of composite material constituents, construction and fabrication, and mechanical behavior to further understand performance in applications.
• Provide technical support to senior staff for on-going program areas such as high temperature composite materials for aerospace applications.
• Understand customer requirements and develop technical solutions within budgetary and schedule constraints.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Performing independent hands-on work to achieve technical project objectives.
• Collaborating with senior staff and peers to promote, develop, and propose research programs in the area of high temperature composites to meet external client needs.
• Cultivating and maintaining internal and external relationships through collaboration and multidisciplinary teams to support more complete technical solutions to a wide array of client problems.
• Presenting research findings at conferences and client meetings.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors, Masters or a PhD in Engineering Mechanics, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar degree field.
• 0-5 years: Strong background in composite material constituents, construction and fabrication, and mechanical behavior, and a demonstrated understanding of the relationships between composite constituents and fabrication processes on the resulting mechanical properties and behavior.
• 0-5 years: Hands-on laboratory experience with composite material manufacturing and/or mechanical testing of composite materials. Experience designing testing hardware and fixturing, utilizing data acquisition systems, and analyzing experimental data.
• 0-5 years: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute experimental approaches based on a firm understanding of the mechanics of composites.
• 0-5 years: Must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate complex information to non-experts internally and externally.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.