Aero Turbine Engineer

DRS NPS has an immediate need for an Aero Turbine Design Engineer with a well-rounded skill set, including design, analysis, assembly support, inspection, and qualification/validation experience.

The ideal candidate is an individual possessing strong engineering technical skills with an experienced-based ability to act as the subject matter expert for the aero design of the flow paths for steam turbines.

The candidate is expected to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team using judgment and discretion in making complex decisions. The technical nature of this position requires a collaborative and consultative role in program development and problem solving with other technical resources.

Critical to success in the role are the abilities to break down and organize complicated technical challenges, clearly document and present project status, and cross-functional project leadership. Travel to US-based customer or other DRS locations as needed (<10%).

• Act as the subject matter expert for aerodynamic design; provide concepts, design solutions, analysis, and calculations for aerodynamic properties of the flow paths for steam turbines
• Provide direct contributor work for the aerodynamic design considerations of steam turbines including:
• Nozzles and bucket cascades;
• 3D optimized latter stages buckets;
• Exhaust hoods;
• Inlet flow passages/valves;
• Act as touch point or direct assist to the thermodynamic design considerations given the highly coupled relation between available energy distribution and aero design.
• Coordinate with other SMEs on the team to find the optimum balance between aerodynamic design and interrelated working disciplines:
  • Compromise between aero performance and mechanical engineering's requirements informed by stress analysis
  • Compromise between aero performance and thermo engineering's available energy
  • Compromise between aero performance and acoustic engineer's performance constraints
• Develop project plans and pre-contract proposals and estimates based on project scope, technical requirements, risks, and customer needs.
• Plan and drive execution of the detailed technical work scope to the required quality, schedule, and budget.
• Confidently and competently represent DRS in front of customers, including the US Navy.
• Clearly communicate, orally and in writing, technical and programmatic information to technical and non-technical individuals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree from a 4-year accredited college or university in aerodynamics, aeronautics, aeroacoustics, heat transfer, mechanical engineering, or related discipline with a minimum of 5 years of experience as an individual contributor.
• Experience in the design of flow paths of turbines / turbo machinery for compressible fluid flow.
• Steam or gas turbine experience (turbines preferred over compressors)
• Experience in compressible fluid flow analysis
• Well versed in commercial RANS CFD software
• Star CCM
• Ansys: Blade Modeler, Turbo Grid, CFX
• Proven experience individually working the product development cycle from concept to qualified / fielded systems.
• US citizenship required. Applicant must have or be able to acquire a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and statistics.
• Experience in lumped parameter / bulk flow models (potential flow solutions) and in the nuances of turbine flow to ID and solve persistent problematic flow issues.
• Ability to execute CFD analysis for other compressible fluid flow (e.g. cooling air within generators, motors, and other rotating machinery and power electronic cabinets)
• Proficient with Computer Aided Design (CAD) Tools (Solidworks and/or Siemens NX/Teamcenter preferred), experience with parameterized models to conduct aero/mechanical trade studies efficiently
• Proficient with Finite Element Analysis and/or Multi-Physics Analysis Tools (ANSYS preferred)

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates are equal opportunity employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Key Words for Search
- Compressible fluid flow
- Ansys Blade Modeler, Turbo Grid, CFX
- Fluid Solid Interface (FSI)
- Star CCM
- Steam Turbines, Gas Turbines