Propulsion Engineer (Fluid/ Thermal)

Portal Space Systems • Bothell, WA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

We are hiring a Fluid/Thermal-focused Propulsion Engineer to advance thruster, feed system, and tank development. This role is responsible for high fidelity CFD (multiphase, phase change, conjugate heat transfer, slosh) and thermal analysis, developing fluid network models, and supporting component sizing across the feed system. This position works closely with fellow propulsion engineers and analysis experts to inform design trades, predict performance, and drive hardware development from conceptual trades through qualified hardware and flight.

Requirements

• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer with the ability to apply first principals reasoning and quickly learn new modeling approaches.
• Ability to identify, within the role’s scope, high-impact technical problems and focus analysis efforts where they can most effectively reduce risk, improve performance, and accelerate hardware decisions
• Propensity to solicit and provide peer review, clearly and concisely document results, and communicate implications for the associated hardware
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, related field or equivalent.
• Experience developing complex CFD models and reduced order fluid/thermal hand calcs.
• Experience communicating analysis assumptions, results, and design implications.
• U.S. persons, which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with NX, STAR-CCM+, GFSSP, and Linux
• Experience with multiphase, conjugate heat transfer, and transient CFD modeling
• Experience with high geometric fidelity thermal modeling
• Experience using test data to correlate analytical models

Responsibilities

• Develop high fidelity CFD models to support HEX Thruster and propellant tank development
• Model complex fluid behavior, including multiphase flow, phase change, and conjugate heat transfer, and tank slosh
• Build fluid network models of feed systems and utilize these for component sizing and controls development
• Complete first order hand calcs for simple problems and quick answers
• Support propulsion test campaigns with pre-test predictions, instrumentation planning, and post-test data reduction and model correlation
• Predict transient temperature distributions internal to the HEX Thruster as driven by radiation in, re-radiation out, conduction internal to the thruster, and conduction to the bus
• Identify and design thermal control approaches of the thruster, including radiation absorption design, re-radiation mitigation, and conduction paths

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level