Mechanical Engineer

Actual Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer III, TPS

Purpose

Working under limited supervision, The Mechanical Design Engineer III will design, develop, test, implement, and perform analysis of technical products and systems associated with Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), related textile (softgoods) products, and mechanical/electromechanical hardware products and systems related to TPS. The Mechanical Design Engineer III will also perform engineering design evaluations as part of an Integrated Product Team and will also develop documentation for internal or external customer review. The work is in direct support of NASA, Military and Commercial Aerospace customers and includes the design, development, and production of prototypes, test fixtures, test articles and flight hardware used for thermal protection of vehicles launched to low-earth orbit, cis-lunar orbit, and to the surface of the moon.

Functions

• Detailed design of textile, mechanical and electromechanical systems, subsystems, and components to be used for thermal protection on cargo vehicles and human rated flight vehicles. This includes thermal blankets, tiles, and other TPS and interfacing hardware to protect launch vehicle components and structures from the high heat resulting from launch, flight and return to earth.

• Must apply engineering knowledge and principles and perform and/or assess stress, thermal, and fluid dynamics analysis to achieve desired fit, form and function.
• Must maintain a high level of technical excellence for all tasks to ensure the highest quality of technical products including test setups, test operations, development setups, development operations, documentation generation, execution, and closeout.
• Must perform or oversee part tolerance analysis utilizing Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing and understand impact of thermal contraction/expansion from the surrounding thermal environment to ensure fit and function.
• Must have good understanding of Aerospace grade metallic and non-metallic material properties typically used for lightweight, high-strength and high temperature TPS design applications.
• Must be able to generate or support the development of interface drawings that define detailed features for mechanical and thermal system interfaces for the hardware and TPS being developed.
• Must be able to design unique test fixtures and methods for test programs.
• Must be able to generate or support the development of requirement specifications, requirement verification and required system documentation such as procedures and hazard analyses.
• Must have the ability to present design concepts, design features, and design details in presentation format (e.g., PowerPoint) at various design gate reviews such that the audience can clearly understand how the performance requirements were incorporated into the design, that the design is producible and affordable, and that it meets or can be verified as meeting the requirement set.
• Must be able to work in a team environment that crosses multi-functional groups such as Design/Drafting, Analysis, Production, Quality Assurance, Health and Safety, Project/Program management, Accounting/Finance.
• Must have a good understanding of Manufacturing/Production process for hardware and textile products..
• Must have a good understanding of structural and thermal analysis processes in the development of hardware and textile such that the design(s) will withstand anticipated environments and perform fit, form, and function after exposure to the environments.
• Must be able to perform technical and safety risk assessment and mitigation.
• Perform other duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Reporting Relationship

• This position reports to the TPS Engineering Supervisor and/or the Engineering Manager

Qualifications

Required:

• BS or MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with a minimum of 5 plus years direct experience in development of mechanical/electromechanical hardware and systems for launch vehicles and systems. Thermal Protection Systems and/or textile design/development experience is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience in mechanical/electromechanical hardware products and systems design and development fabrication methods and techniques.

• Knowledge and experience in textile and/or thermal protection systems design and development including familiarity with textile fabrication methods and techniques.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• US Citizenship or Legal US residence (Green Card) required.

Requisition Preferences:

• Ability to perform CAD modeling and generate manufacturing drawings using Solid Works or Pro-E Creo.
• Experience with MathCAD
• Experience with ASME Y14.5, 14.24 and 14.41 drawing standards.
• Experience with spacecraft thermal protection systems and
• Experience with textile design and development
• Experience with test support equipment and fixtures

• Familiarity with writing assembly procedures and technical reports
• Familiarity with testing such as thermal testing, structural testing, and life testing

• Experience using LabVIEW

Physical Activity/Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.