Mechanical Engineer – Rotating Equipment

MRI Technologies•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

MRI Technologies has an exciting opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer – Rotating Equipment on the JETS II contract at NASA Johnson Space Center. In this role, you will lead reliability and lifecycle activities for critical rotating assets, high-vacuum systems, and complex pumping architectures that support NASA's human spaceflight test, training, and research facilities. You will be embedded with a collaborative team of engineers, technicians, and operations personnel who keep mission-critical mechanical systems performing at peak readiness. A typical day involves developing engineering calculations and technical specifications for pumps, compressors, mechanical seals, and vacuum components, collaborating with NASA civil servants and operations teams to troubleshoot performance issues, and reviewing P&IDs and isometric drawings to maintain configuration control. In the morning you may be authoring a procurement package for a centrifugal pump upgrade or interpreting vibration data from a degrading bearing; in the afternoon you could be leading a Root Cause Analysis on a recent equipment failure, walking down a high-vacuum system with maintenance personnel, or presenting reliability findings in a hazard review. The work is hands-on, mission-critical, and directly tied to the facilities that prepare astronauts and hardware for deep space missions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Minimum of 2 years of experience in the field or a related area.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in mechanical design, reliability engineering, or rotating equipment maintenance.
Demonstrated background in the selection, operation, and maintenance of high-performance rotating assets, including centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, compressors, blowers, and turbines.
Hands-on experience with industrial vacuum systems (roughing and high-vacuum) and complex pumping architectures.
High proficiency in developing, reviewing, and interpreting P&IDs, mechanical schematics, and isometric drawings to maintain configuration control.
Proven track record of performing Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to drive measurable reliability improvements.
Strong understanding of critical mechanical components, including mechanical seals, precision bearings, couplings, and advanced lubrication systems.
Excellent documentation skills.
Ability to work in a team environment consisting of NASA civil servants and contractor employees.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.

Nice To Haves

Professional familiarity with ASME and ANSI mechanical standards and their application in high-reliability environments.
Experience utilizing condition monitoring tools, including vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis, to drive proactive maintenance strategies.
Direct experience with cryogenic systems or complex low-pressure vacuum architectures.
Proven background supporting high-stakes operations in industrial, chemical, energy, aerospace, or research facilities.
Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., Inventor, AutoCAD, CREO) and engineering simulation tools.
Experience supporting Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) test plans or facility upgrade design efforts.
Working knowledge of NASA, JSC, and ISS standard practices and requirements (including safety).

Responsibilities

Lead reliability and lifecycle activities for critical rotating assets, high-vacuum systems, and complex pumping architectures.
Develop engineering calculations and technical specifications for pumps, compressors, mechanical seals, and vacuum components.
Collaborate with NASA civil servants and operations teams to troubleshoot performance issues.
Review P&IDs and isometric drawings to maintain configuration control.
Author procurement packages for equipment upgrades.
Interpret vibration data from degrading bearings.
Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on equipment failures.
Walk down high-vacuum systems with maintenance personnel.
Present reliability findings in hazard reviews.
Provide real-time technical support in a fast-paced operational environment.
Bridge the gap between engineering design and field maintenance.
Lead collaborative sessions with cross-functional teams (Systems Engineering, Human Factors, and Operations).
Organize and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and schedules with limited supervision.