Job Description

This position supports the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) project, a collaboration between DARPA and NASA aimed at developing and demonstrating nuclear thermal rocket engines (NTRE) in space. The engineer will work both independently at times and in an integrated team performing engine systems and system engineering-related activities to enable the design, test, and operation of the DRACO rocket engine.

As a key member of the DRACO team, primary duties will include:

• Expertise in Nuclear Core Multiphysics (MP) Modeling: Experience with the physics involved in nuclear core dynamics, including heat transfer, fluid mechanics, structures, and nuclear engineering. Proficiency in at least one of these areas, with a strong focus on nuclear engineering, is essential.
• Nuclear Reactor Operations: Familiarity with nuclear reactor startup, shutdown, cooldown, testing, and controls is highly desired. Experience with simulating these operational phases is a plus.
• Nuclear Reactor Core Materials: Understanding of the materials and nuclear properties of nuclear reactor cores, particularly those used in nuclear thermal propulsion systems.
• Simulation Software Proficiency: Experience with simulation tools such as MCNP and OpenMC is highly desired. Familiarity with MOOSE is also valuable.
• Nuclear Fuel Performance: Solid understanding of nuclear fuel performance, including the ability to model the nuclear, chemical, and mechanical effects of fuel under varying operational conditions.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Proven ability to interface successfully across multiple organizations and disciplines, ideally in a leadership or collaborative capacity.
• Software Integration: Strong ability to efficiently integrate disparate software systems and work comfortably in a networked environment, particularly on Linux systems and high-performance computing (HPC) platforms.
• Modeling & Simulation Software Development: Experience with M&S software development, including parallel processing and efficient solution algorithms, is highly desirable.
• Coordinate, develop, and present technical materials related to engine system performance and testing in support of design milestone reviews and anomaly investigations.
• Document and maintain test and data analysis processes in written work instructions.
• Participate in relevant trade teams. Identify and pursue resolution of issues.
• Identify and document customer objectives and product requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

Work Environment: 

Office environment. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, accurate and timely communication, both verbally and in writing (100%). Requires ability to interact professionally with co-workers, management, and client (100%). Requires travel in the domestic USA (10%). Requires ability to work at a computer for long periods of time (100%).

Physical Requirements:

Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at NASA facilities to discuss technical issues (10%). Also, requires sitting for extended periods of time at a desk to write reports and perform engineering tasks (80%). Requires ability to use stairs or elevators for access between floors and multiple buildings at NASA and other facilities (10%).

Equipment and Machines: 

Requires ability to operate a personal computer, a telephone, fax machine, copier, calculator, and other general office equipment (100%).

Attendance:  

Normal workday is from 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Minimal overtime may be required (10%) to meet schedule milestones and to support technical demands of the job. Regular attendance is a necessity and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

Other Essential Functions:

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.

Requirements

Qualifications

Typically, educational requirements are the equivalent of a minute of a Masters with at least 3 years of experience, or BS with at least 5 years experience.

Qualifications include:

• A background in computer science or related fields is highly desired. Additionally, the ability to translate engineering physics concepts into computational models and engage with the engineering community to implement these models is crucial.
• Computational Science Engagement: Proven ability to articulate the needs, concerns, and opportunities from a computational science perspective while collaborating with the engineering and physics communities.

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Benefits

Qualis is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse and talented workforce who can contribute to the mission and vision of the Company. Our employees are our greatest asset and we promote a positive work environment, teamwork, professional growth, innovation, community involvement, flexible scheduling and a family-friendly work environment.

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