Senior Propulsion Design Engineer

Senior Propulsion Design Engineers at Astro Mechanica hold a crucial role in the design and development of our turboelectric adaptive jet engine. Responsibilities include leading design trade studies, completing detailed structural, thermal, and fluid analyses, and presenting design reviews to get valuable feedback from stakeholders. They also actively assemble prototypes, design associated tooling, and conduct hardware tests to ensure optimal performance and adherence to requirements.

To qualify for the Senior Propulsion Design Engineer position at Astro Mechanica, candidates should possess over five years of hands-on experience with propulsion systems, fluidic, and mechanical systems. Proficiency in CAD modeling, particularly Siemens NX, and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and GD&T are essential. Experience with data acquisition, instrumentation, and power electronics is also preferred, alongside a genuine passion for continuous improvement and high-quality work.

Astro Mechanica promotes a collaborative office environment, expecting employees to work onsite five days a week to foster teamwork and culture. The workplace is designed for engaging discussions and rapid problem-solving, reflecting the fast-paced nature of aerospace innovation. This setup creates an ideal environment for Senior Propulsion Design Engineers to share ideas and integrate feedback efficiently.

Senior Propulsion Design Engineers at Astro Mechanica will engage with groundbreaking technologies, most notably our turboelectric adaptive jet engine. This engine represents a significant leap in propulsion efficiency across a range of speeds, making a notable impact on both the realms of national security and commercial aviation. Engineers will explore and implement designs that push the boundaries of traditional aerospace technology.

The Senior Propulsion Design Engineer role at Astro Mechanica is integral to our mission of reinventing supersonic aircraft. By taking charge of innovative engine design and ensuring high performance through thorough testing and integration, this position directly influences the evolution of aerospace technologies that we believe will redefine flight experiences globally.

In responding to this question, highlight specific projects or roles where you designed or analyzed propulsion systems. Use metrics and outcomes to demonstrate your contributions, and discuss how you applied theoretical knowledge practically in your past positions.

When asked about CAD software, be specific about your experience with Siemens NX and any other programs you have used. Explain the advantages of Siemens NX concerning its capabilities in handling complex designs, and how your familiarity with it would benefit the role at Astro Mechanica.

Choose a specific instance where you faced a significant technical challenge and explain the problem, your thought process, the steps you took to solve it, and the outcome. This demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and how you handle obstacles in engineering design.

Detail your approach to maintaining high-quality standards, such as checking your work rigorously, collaborating with peers for feedback, and implementing a systematic review process. Provide examples of how you've successfully maintained quality in previous engineering projects.

Outline your direct experience with hardware testing, including specific methods you've employed, tools utilized, and how you've analyzed test data to ensure performance metrics align with design requirements.

Discuss your methodology for conducting design trade studies, emphasizing your process of evaluating various design options against system-level impacts, your analytical skills, and how you incorporate stakeholder feedback to refine your designs.

Choose a relevant example where you diagnosed a hardware issue, detailing the systematic approach you used, any troubleshooting techniques you applied, and how you implemented corrective actions to resolve the problem.

Explain your strategies for prioritizing tasks, such as using project management tools or methods to assess urgency and importance, and share an example where your prioritization led to successfully meeting deadlines under pressure.

Provide a brief overview of the analysis methods and tools you prefer, whether it’s FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for structural matters or CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) for thermal analyses, and discuss how you've applied these tools successfully in past projects.

Share your passion for aerospace engineering, perhaps by recalling specific moments or projects that drew you to the field. Emphasize how your passion aligns with Astro Mechanica's mission and innovations in supersonic flight.