GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

This position supports several high-speed / hypersonic material evaluation programs within the Department of Defense and NASA. Candidates with interest and expertise in the areas of hypersonic, test and evaluation, and compressible flow are encouraged to apply. The candidate must be able to effectively and actively perform aerothermal and fluids analysis of high-speed systems, both independently and as part of a team. The candidate must show demonstrated competency in conjugate heat transfer and high enthalpy flows to understand the relevant environments of interest, specifically supersonic and hypersonic flight regimes. Analytical thinking, problem solving, communication, and detail orientation are key skills necessary for this position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform aerothermal and fluids modeling and analysis of high-speed vehicles and components to support sub-scale and component level material evaluation tests. Analysis is performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The primary tool employed will be US3D.
• Lead CFD aspects for determining test conditions and thermal predictions for specimen and hardware design.
• Use engineering principals and judgement to evaluate performance of various systems tested in an arc jet environment.

Other Job Functions

• Lead CFD analyses at various levels of fidelity based on specific objectives and timelines.
• Support derivation of aerothermal test conditions based on trajectory parameters and vehicle geometry.
• Estimate boundary conditions for thermal response predictions of various materials in hypersonic environment.
• Apply specific expertise and knowledge to provide technical solutions to complex problems and systems.
• Provide recommendations to improve ground tests, instrumentation, and understanding of component performance.
• Lead and produce CFD inputs to technical reports and presentations of analyses and ground tests.
• Correlate CFD models to data collected from ground tests and other experimental results.
• Perform other duties as required by supervisor.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications

• US Citizenship required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain security clearance at a level equivalent to Department of Defense (DOD)SECRET
• Masteris or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related discipline.
• 1 year of directly related CFD analyst experience in aerothermal environments.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly in a complex, high technology environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of directly related experience modeling supersonic/hypersonic ground tests.
• Experience in modeling flow through converging/diverging nozzles.
• Experience in performing CFD of supersonic and hypersonic flow regimes for DoD customers.
• Experience with GridPro and/or US3D.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Motivated- Works independently and a self-starter who can thrive in a dynamic team environment to keep projects on track, resolve problems, and deliver results.
• Analytical Thinking and Detail Orientation- Small details constantly change that can have large impacts on over schedules or objectives. Identifying problems, troubleshooting and developing and implementing solutions requires detailed analysis in each task.
• Quality Orientation- Accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved; no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes, procedures and tasks; being watchful over a period of time.
• Planning and Organization- Systematically identifies issues to be addressed and plans a course of action for self to ensure the accomplishment of specific objectives. This position will require the ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with team members and customers. Candidate should have demonstrated history of effective verbal and written communication.

WORK ENVIROMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work Environment & Conditions

This position involves work in an office and laboratory environment and could require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including:

• Safety glasses
• Hearing protection (varies based on tasks)
• Shoe covers

Physical Demands

In performing the work for this position, the engineer must be able to:

• Perform work utilizing a computer for extended periods of time.
• Sit for extended periods of time without being able to leave the work area.
• Stand for extended periods of time without being able to leave the work area.
• Climb ladders and stairs in performing the work.