The following Engineer opportunities are available in the School of Engineering’s Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI).

 Below are the different areas specific to each post are as outlined:

 Rocket Turbopump Design

·       Design, manufacture and assess the thermostructural performance of liquid rocket propellant pumps including the dynamic loading analysis of high-speed rotating shafts and the design of electropump cooling architecture

 Propellant Conduiting and Rocket Engine Thermal Control

·       Develop and analyse propellant flow conduiting to mitigate coking, excess pressure-drop and underperformance in liquid rocket engines  

 Sounding Rocket Mission Design

·       Conduct analyses of potential suborbital rocket missions from South African sites including flight trajectory analysis, meteorological analysis and flight footprint safety assessments to ensure successful execution of suborbital missions

 Liquid Rocket Engine Flow Control Systems Design

·       Design, manufacture and assess the performance of flight-weight pressure regulators for application in liquid rocket engine propellant systems

 Rocket Turbopump Gas Generator Design

·       Apply gas combustion dynamics and fluid dynamics analyses to the design, fabrication and testing of gas generator and turbine hardware for rocket engines 

The incumbent will execute engineering design work and performance analyses, manufacture and test components and systems, contribute to the development of testing procedures and test infrastructure, conduct contract research tasks, adhere to occupational health and safety regulations. S/he will contribute to academic research papers for publication in journals and at conferences, communicate with suppliers for quotations, manufacture and testing, follow UKZN procurement procedure and manage associated processes, coordinate logistics of manufactured parts and systems. S/he will contribute to planning roadmaps for technology development, assist in budgeting exercises, participate in the drafting of research and funding proposals and project reports, attend group/unit/centre/institute team meetings, meetings conferences with suppliers, researchers and stakeholders. Further s/he contribute to drafting of project life cycle documentation, complete design and test reports, participate in outreach and public relations activities.

The incumbents will report to Professor Michael Brooks of the Aerospace Systems Research Institute. 

·     BSc Eng or BEng degree in Mechanical Engineering at NQF Level 8 from an Institute accredited with ECSA.

·     Demonstrated relevant experience in the areas described above for each post for which an application is made.