Principal Acoustic Engineer

Job Summary

Leonardo DRS NPS has an immediate need for a Principal Acoustic Engineer who will be a subject matter expert on the acoustic design and analysis of high performance rotating equipment and associated static structures.  You will provide direct contributions to acoustic design performance considerations for multiple product lines including Steam Turbines, large Electric Motors, Integral Blowers / Compressors and other propulsion system components.  

The ideal candidate is an individual possessing strong mechanical engineering technical skills, a superior knowledge of airborne and structure-borne acoustic analysis, and an understanding of the design considerations for large rotating equipment.  

This position is in-office or hybrid based out of DRS’s Fitchburg, MA location.
 

Job Responsibilities

You are expected to work independently or collaboratively as part of an integrated project team, using judgment and discretion in making complex decisions.  You will act as a SME and mentor to more junior colleagues.  

You will execute acoustic analysis on large rotating assemblies, including:

• Structure Borne Noise 
• Airborne Noise 
• Narrow Band and Octave Analysis  
• Transmission Paths 
• Mitigation Methods 

Modeling Tools will include:

• Empirical methods 
• Finite Element (low frequency structure borne or airborne noise) 
• Boundary Element Method (low frequency airborne noise) 
• Statistical Energy Analysis (high frequency noise)

Critical to success in the role is the ability to breakdown complicated technical challenges and find innovative solutions that meet the program’s requirements without adding unnecessary weight, cost, or risk.  You will need the ability to clearly document and communicate, orally and in writing, technical and programmatic information to technical and non-technical individuals including the team, project leadership, and to other functions including executive management.  As part of regular activities, this role will have customer interaction where you will confidently and competently represent DRS in front of customers, including the US Navy.

You will review, analyze, and status project milestones and provide accurate estimates to complete projects or analyses.  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree from a 4-year accredited college or university in Mechanical Engineering or other suitable degree with a minimum of 8 years of experience in evaluating acoustic performance of turbo machinery assemblies, large rotating machinery assemblies (e.g., motors and or generators) or similar components.
• Expert-level ability to perform Finite Element and Statistical Energy Analyses
• Experience in execution of acoustic testing and model validation, including sound intensity, modal analysis, and data acquisition with instrumentation such as accelerometers, microphones, and strain gauges.
• Prior hands-on experience to be able to evaluate model and physical test data to recognize good vs bad data, forced vs. resonant behavior, background vs. operational noise, etc. 
• Experience in the analysis of acoustic sources generated by flow-induced compressible fluids including preceding elements 
• Expert experience with the MATLAB for data analysis and modeling and/or programming to create application specific analysis tools 
• You must be a US citizen and be able to pass screening for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the development of rotating machinery and associated manufacturing drawings.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems for acoustic testing and digital signal processing 
• Prior experience with data post processing, optimization and analysis 
• Practical knowledge and application of statistical analysis methods 
• Knowledge of MIL-STD- 740-1, and –2, MIL-STD-1474.
• Familiarity with Computer Aided Design (CAD) Tools (Siemens NX and/or Solidworks preferred).
• Experience with Program Management tools (MS Project preferred) and/or agile Project Management tools- (Jira preferred). 
• Experience with execution of projects for the US military. 
• Active security clearance.

Key Words for Search 
•    Finite Element Analysis, FEA 
•    Statistical Energy Analysis, SEA 
•    Boundary Element Method, BEM 
•    MATLAB  
•    Modal Analysis 
•    Statistical Analysis 
•    Model(ing) 
•    Simulation 
•    Test 
•    Noise 
o    Reduction 
o    Mitigation 
o    Measurement 
o    Analysis 
o    Aerodynamic 
o    Fluid dynamic(s) 
•    Structure Borne, SBN 
•    Air Borne, ABN 
•    Acoustic(s) 
•    Noise, Vibration and Harshness, NVH 
•    Engineers 
•    Steam  
•    Turbine 
•    Fan(s)