R&D Test Engineer - Fluid Systems

Responsibilities

• Design fluid systems for test stands that meet test objectives/requirements, soliciting feedback from interfacing teams as necessary
• Challenge requirements as necessary to achieve simplicity in design and develop efficient de‑risking strategies and plans
• Perform hand calculations and system level analyses demonstrating sufficient margin for fluid system requirements; build and run Ansys structural and thermal simulations on components and assemblies
• Procure off‑the‑shelf process fluid components, manage relationships with vendors, draft specifications for speciality parts and design custom fluid system components as needed
• Manage the build and commissioning of fluid systems, coordinating engineers and technicians to safely bring systems to operational status
• Design system instrumentation and automation for safe operations

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, process engineering, or a closely related field
• 5+ years of experience in the engineering of integrated fluid/mechanical systems (experience with both small‑scale rapid R&D and large‑scale systems is highly desired)
• Hands‑on experience executing the entire lifecycle of large‑scale thermofluid systems
• Experience developing specifications, sizing and working with tanks, process piping, pumps, valves, compressors, purification stages, circulators, heat exchangers, etc.
• Strong background in establishing system requirements, generating process flow diagrams (PFDs), and developing piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
• Experience in the design, integration, and troubleshooting of system instrumentation
• Experience utilizing engineering tools such as ANSYS, COMSOL, 1D compressible flow codes, Python and MATLAB
• Practical experience designing, building, and commissioning fluid systems for specialized pressurized, cryogenic, vacuum, and/or elevated‑temperature applications
• Experience sourcing complex components, drafting technical specifications, and managing relationships with specialized vendors and suppliers
• Strong ability to distill complex fluid system details and effectively communicate to non‑experts and interfacing teams across R&D, production, and procurement
• Highly driven to challenge assumptions, make efficient technical decisions, and develop innovative solutions on tight timelines
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Perform activities such as stooping, climbing, typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
• Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on‑call occasionally