RESPONSIBILITIES
Hypergolic System Design
Lead the detailed mechanical design of hypergolic propellant feed systems, including propellant storage vessels, transfer lines, fill and drain assemblies, valve configurations, and pressurization circuits for a new test stand.
Select fluid system components and assemblies compatible with hypergolic propellants (NTO, MMH, UDMH, or similar), including sizing, material selection, seal compatibility, leak containment, and pressure ratings.
Develop and own P&IDs for hypergolic propellant and pressurant systems; ensure designs incorporate appropriate redundancy, isolation, and emergency safing capabilities.
Design propellant offload, storage, and transfer infrastructure including secondary containment, vent and drain routing, and neutralization provisions.
Integrate hypergolic system designs with fire suppression, facility exhaust and scrubbing systems, personnel protection provisions, and facility control interfaces.
Apply and enforce applicable design standards and material compatibility requirements throughout all hypergolic system designs.
Test Stand Structural & Mechanical Design
Design the primary test stand structure including thrust measurement systems, engine/thruster mount interfaces, and load paths for anticipated thrust levels and dynamic loads.
Detail mechanical designs for run tank assemblies, GSE carts, propellant conditioning systems, and ancillary facility hardware.
Produce fully detailed CAD models and engineering drawings suitable for fabrication, procurement, and third-party review.
Conduct or coordinate structural and pressure system analyses including FEA, pressure budget calculations, and proof and burst margin verification.
Design for maintainability, access, and operational safety — ensuring that technicians can safely configure, operate, and service all systems.
Fabrication, Procurement & Build
Develop fabrication packages including drawings, material specifications, weld and joining requirements, and acceptance criteria for test stand hardware.
Identify and qualify vendors for fabricated components, pressure vessels, specialty valves, instrumentation, and other long-lead hardware; provide technical oversight throughout procurement.
Support and oversee the fabrication, assembly, and installation of designed systems; resolve fabrication anomalies and nonconformances.
Define and execute acceptance test requirements for delivered hardware, including proof pressure testing, leak checks, and functional verification.
