Senior Mechanical Engineer, Optical Payload Thermal Design

Acton, Massachusetts, United States

• Category: Aerospace Engineering

Description

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Overview

General Atomics pioneers' technologies with the potential to change the world. Behind a talented global team of engineers, GA delivers safe, sustainable, and economical solutions to meet growing global demands. Our Engineers have an opportunity to work on first of a kind product line within an incredible, dynamic environment.

Engineering positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience. Candidates from mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering backgrounds must know the fundamentals of engineering system developments, requirements, testing, and integration before getting to the final stages of customer interface and project management.

Success Profile

What makes a successful Senior Mechanical Engineer, Optical Payload Thermal Design at General Atomics? Check out the top traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right mix.

Job Summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Mechanical Engineer experienced in optical space payload thermal design in Acton, MA. The ideal candidate has a strong background in the disciplines of heat transfer and thermal engineering and their applications to space systems, and direct experience in thermal design and control of spacecraft or space payloads. The successful applicant will engage and advocate for the best solutions, best practices, and best innovations for critical thermal control issues across the enterprise, both inside and outside the organization.

May function in an advisory or project leadership role providing direction to less experienced professional staff. Formulates plans, typically long term, for solution(s) development, documentation, and deployment, as well as meeting various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.

Evaluates the integration of the engineering solution within the overall engineering environment; and ensures that appropriate documentation, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates completed.

Communicates with engineering professionals, users, and management throughout the solution development cycle, represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects, interacts with senior external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between the organizations, and participates in the development of new or expansion of existing business.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides thermal management solutions for optical space payloads, payload components, payload subassemblies, and orbital satellite systems.

Delivers results as the thermal subject matter expert in thermal control systems for spacecraft and payloads. Lead and conduct analysis, modeling, simulation, experimental investigations, and assessments of designs and design concepts relating to payload thermal control systems and their components. Participate in and review thermal subsystem requirements, allocations, design, integration, test, and flight operations.

Documents findings and communicates reports and technical presentations at engineering meetings and participates in program reviews.

May assume technical and engineering responsibility for segments or key portions of contracts.

Engage with impact with these internal and external customers to identify, track, and resolve design, workmanship, and performance issues relating to space vehicle and payload thermal control subsystems

Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.

Works in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply

Job Qualifications:

Typically requires a bachelor's degree, master's degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a master's degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.

Experience with the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and operation of EO/IR space payload thermal control systems for all relevant modes of heat transfer, both active and passive, and through all phases of program lifecycle.

Experience with SINDA/FLUIT and Thermal Desktop Software; other applicable software includes CAD tools (SOLIDWORKS, CREO, NX) and scripting languages such as FORTRAN and Python.

Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycle, and other environmental test programs.

Demonstrates expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice in the field of thermal analysis. Prior experience with closed form (by-hand) calculations is required.

Must be able to effectively communicate engineering issues, solutions, and analysis results verbally to audiences with varying technical depth and experience.

Must be able to effectively document and present designs, analysis and test results in the form of briefing packages, drawings, documents and reports.

Must have experience with organizing, planning, scheduling, conducting, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.

Able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required

Salary:

$128,130 - $229,358

Company

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General Atomics

General Atomics is a defense and diversified technologies company, founded in 1955 as a Division of General Dynamics and acquired by the Blue family in 1986. GA and affiliated companies operate on five continents and include GA Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI).

GA-ASI produces a series of unmanned aircraft and provides electro-optical, radar, signals intelligence, and automated airborne surveillance systems. GA’s Electromagnetic Systems Division produces electro-magnetic aircraft launch and recovery systems for the US Navy, satellite surveillance, electro-magnetic rail gun, high power laser, hypervelocity projectile, and power conversion systems.

GA is the principal private sector participant in thermonuclear fusion research through its internationally recognized DIII-D and inertial confinement programs for the US Department of Energy. GA developed the UCSD Supercomputer Center and has constructed more than 60 TRIGA nuclear research reactors in 24 countries. GA is a leader in development of next-generation nuclear fission and high-temperature materials technologies.

Other GA affiliates include General Atomics Europe GmbH with principal facilities in the German States of Saxony and Brandenburg, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd (South Australia), GA Uranium Resources Group, and the GA-Honeywell uranium conversion partnership.

The company occupies 8+ million square feet of engineering, laboratory and manufacturing facilities and comprises over 13,000 employees.