Turbomachinery Structural Engineer

Parque Industrial de Elche (Poligono Industrial), Spain

About PLD:

Founded in 2011, PLD Space is a high-tech engineering, manufacturing and service-driven company, with deep track record and expertise in space launch technologies.

We are a trusted global championing industry leader disrupting the pathway to space access. We are on a mission to reach new heights by making space more accessible, supporting missions that will make us smarter, safer and wealthier.

Our purpose is to propel new futures, to enable progress from space and enrich peoples’ lives on Earth, by moving new economies, people and world forward.

Mission

As a Turbomachinery Structural Engineer, you will be responsible for performing a wide range of analyses and assessments related to the structural integrity, performance, and reliability of turbomachinery components and systems, with a focus on ANSYS Mechanical for Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Your mission will involve developing, validate and optimize high-performance turbomachinery designs to support our innovative microlauncher space vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and test turbopump hardware for MIURA 5 first/second stage liquid propellant rocket engines (TEPREL-C and TEPREL-C Vac). 
• Work closely with the propulsion team to assure functional integration of the turbomachinery components in the engine system.
• Conduct in-depth Finite Element Analyses (FEA) using ANSYS Mechanical (preferred) for turbomachinery components, including impellers, casings, blades, and other structural elements, to ensure structural integrity, durability, and performance under operating conditions.
• Conduct analyses on bearings and mechanical seals, evaluate their performance and reliability under varying load conditions, and propose design modifications or improvements as required.
• Work with cryogenic temperatures in the assessment of material behavior, thermal expansion, and cryogenic sealing requirements for turbomachinery components.
• Analyze test data from turbomachinery tests, including modal analysis, blade tip timing, and strain gauge measurements, to validate and refine structural models, identify areas for improvement, and optimize component design.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and production teams to identify and resolve any manufacturing challenges or issues regarding the turbomachinery components.
• Conduct material characterization studies to analyze manufacturing capabilities and compatibility of materials for different turbomachinery components, including machining and additive manufacturing processes.
• Write, review, and update work instructions for assembly, handling, inspection of turbopump assemblies (both intermediate test articles and flight hardware).

Necessary Requirements

• Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s degree. 
• > 5 years of experience using FEM analysis in concert with turbomachinery components (ANSYS Mechanical preferred)
• Fluency in English, both written and oral, and excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of FEM software, as well as blade geometry parametrization for turbomachinery components.
• Experience in one or more of the following:

-        Proficiency in rotordynamics analysis and familiarity with relevant software packages for vibration analysis.

-        Strong understanding of bearings and mechanical seals, their design principles, and analysis techniques.

-        Experience in material characterization studies, including analysis of material properties and behavior for manufacturing processes such as machining and additive manufacturing.

Desired Requirements

•  Strong background in turbomachinery design, analysis, and testing, with a specialization in rocket engines.
• Manage suppliers for the following but not limited assembly/ fabrication tooling support, rotor balance, casting, bearings, and seals.
• Experience with cryogenic fluids.
• Familiarity with gas turbine technologies, including their design principles and performance optimization techniques.
• Familiar with manufacturing capabilities (typical tolerances) and processes: turning, milling, drilling, reaming, EDM, grinding, brazing, welding, 3D printing. Familiar with mechanical seals.

Benefits

Health & Wellness: We want you to be happy and healthy in body and mind.  We encourage you to have regular physiotherapy sessions at our facilities so that you can continue with your physical activities. We offer partial coverage of your medical scheme covering you, your spouse or partner, and your children. 

 

Boost your creativity: Focus. Energy. Yummy snacks. It takes a lot to be creative all day, but we’ve got you covered. Eat local, sustainable, delectable fare at our cafes, and plunder our pantries for fresh fruit and other goodies whenever you need a boost. 

 

Engineering by doing: We encourage hands-on learning and foster internal mobility and team collaboration, with one-third of positions filled by current employees and one in five people promoted each year. 

 

Find balance: PLD Space offers 23 days of annual leave + 24 and 31 of December. We prioritize worklife balance with flexible schedules, empowering teams to manage their own hours. We work hard here, so we encourage taking breaks to recharge, ensuring a healthy work environment. 

 

Never stop learning: At PLD Space, education and professional development is a priority. We offer extensive learning opportunities, from conferences and webinars to higher education programs and technical certifications. We encourage hands-on learning and foster internal mobility and team collaboration, with one-third of positions filled by current employees and one in five people promoted each year. 

Focus on your financial future: Flexible remuneration plan lets you allocate part of your salary to everyday expenses like lunch, nursery school or public transport, which are exempt from Personal Income Tax (IRPF) when paid through this system. 

Values

We have four critical beliefs that guide the way PLD Space is shaping the future of space launch technologies. 

• Teamwork. 
• Hard work. 
• Dynamism. 
• Commitment. 
• Keep it simple. 

Join us to reinvent how rockets are built!