Senior Thermo-Fluids Engineer

NEUTRON 

Neutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven execution history with the Electron program. If you’re interested in joining a high performing team, pushing the boundaries with a clean sheet development of re-usable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity! 

SENIOR THERMO-FLUIDS ANALYST 

Based out of Rocket Lab’s our headquarters in Long Beach, CA the Senior Thermo-fluids Analyst will be directly contributing to the design and qualification of the Archimedes engine. You will be responsible for thermo-fluids modeling and analysis of components and engine systems, partnering with designers to ensure the engine and its subsystems achieve exceptional performance and meet requirements. In this role, you will utilize your understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics to conduct CFD and thermo-fluid simulations, analyze modeling and testing results, and advise on technical matters related to your experience in thermo-fluids modeling and analysis. You will support the Neutron and Archimedes teams, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors. 

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: 

• Use commercial tools and develop specialized tools to solve difficult thermo-fluid analysis problems in Propulsion hardware 
• Work with designers, development engineers, and the manufacturing group to define and analyze hardware designs that meet heat transfer and fluid dynamics requirements while being manufacturable and reliable. 
• Create system, subassemblies, and individual parts analytical models. 
• Perform steady state and transient thermo-fluids and conjugate heat transfer analysis of heat exchange systems to predict fluid and structural temperatures, as well as heat and flow rates. 
• Develop standard practices for thermo-fluids analysis and common hand calculations to expedite hardware development. 
• Generate and maintain clear documentation of all performed analyses, including inputs, methods, and results to ensure proper communication during hardware reviews and qualification. 
• Support stage, engine and sub-system testing through data review and provide recommendations based on data and analysis. 
• Provide continued direction to the engineering team on highest value analysis and results deliverable schedule as the program evolves. 

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent 
• 5+ years of performing thermal and mass transfer analyses for aerospace hardware. 
• A good foundation on heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics analysis best practices. 
• Fundamental understanding of fluids design principles. 
• Familiarity with one or both of following tools: STAR-CCM+, ANSYS CFX or equivalent. 
• Prior experience in thermal/fluid hardware instrumentation and testing. 

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:  

• Graduate degree  
• Professional experience with NX, and ANSYS mechanical. 
• Experience with best practices for design, qualification and production 
• Experience with a scrappy development environment 
• Experience with supporting failure investigations. 
• Proficient with the following tools: Thermal Desktop, GFSSP, and/or SINDA/FLUENT. 
• Prior experience analyzing rocket engine combustion devices and turbo pump components. 
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design principles.  
• Familiar with performing CFD analysis on parallel computing systems. 
• Familiarity with one or more of the following topic areas: CHT, FSI, Multiphase, or Reacting Flow. 
• Familiarity with liquid engine qualification and certification using NASA-STDs 5012.  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.  
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing. 
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.