Canopy Technologies’ mission is to manufacture humanity’s ascent. Our team advances materials and manufacturing processes to support the most challenging missions in the galaxy: re-entry from space, interplanetary travel, hypersonic weapons, and more. Canopy’s engineering centers around extreme environment materials needed to withstand heat, corrosive environments, and the harshness of space.
Role Overview:
In this role on the Canopy engineering team, you will join the aerothermal team and working with external customers to refine TPS requirements through modeling and simulation. You will work closely with both the TPS design and manufacturing teams to develop effective TPS solutions for Canopy’s customers with platforms across space and hypersonics. You will join a small core team with combined experience managing nuclear weapons systems, starting companies, creating new materials, and flying things to space. To be successful in this role, you must be self-motivated, thrive in ambiguity, and be able to lead your own projects to completion.
Key Responsibilities
Engage with external customers to complete trade studies considering aerothermal environment and TPS material response
Assess ablation and heat transfer for TPS stackups at different levels of fidelity
Create, mesh, run, and post process computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models
Responsible for all external and internal flow field simulations
Calculate pressure, heat flux, and aero buffet/vibration loads for thermal and structures teams
Participate in the research and development process for new reentry vehicles
Collaborate cross functionally with design, development, and test groups
Develop test plans for experimental test campaigns to validate simulation results
Lead the review of post-flight data and compare the data to pre-flight estimates
Contribute to the development of proposals and new products that enhance the organization's technical capabilities and support strategic growth objectives
Required Qualifications
Demonstrated ability to deliver on tight schedules using scrappy and creative solutions
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication
Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in chemistry, physics, structures, materials science, and thermodynamics
Experience of the entire program lifecycle of a spacecraft, from initial concept to mission success
Undergraduate degree in a relevant technical field with 2+ years of experience performing vehicle-level CFD, preferably applied to launch vehicles and/or reentry systems
Direct experience with thermal analysis and heat transfer simulations
Experience with thermal protection system sizing & analysis using standard tools like FIAT, CHAR, CBAero, TPSSizer, MINIVER, and/or LAURA
Familiarity with Python and industry-standard CFD tools like FUN3D, Star-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, or other equivalent applicable tools
Preferred Qualifications
Exposure to aerothermal wind tunnel and flight testing and instrumentation
Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g. heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.)
Program management leadership experience
Experience performing detailed thermal analysis in programs such as ANSYS static and transient thermal (or equivalent).
Understanding of TPS manufacturing and integration principles, especially as they related to design for manufacturability/assembly
Ability to contribute to engineering proposals, driving the conceptualization, trade studies, and technical writing for advanced TPS designs and materials.
Familiarity with space and defense standards such as but not limited to SMS-S-016, MIL-STD-810, NASA-GSFC-7000 series or other industry equivalent standards for design, analysis, and testing of defense articles or launch vehicles
Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher), or the ability to obtain one based on eligibility. This includes meeting background check and other requirements, as required for access to controlled defense-related information and facilities
Additional Requirements
Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English
Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use
Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email
Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret security clearance
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Management may modify or assign additional duties as needed.
