Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (II/III)

About the role

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. Reporting to the Thermal Engineering Manager, the Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (II/III) will be involved in all aspects of a spacecraft's development, supporting thermal systems configuration from concept through design reviews, verification, and operations. In addition to predictive and analytical work, Senior Engineers may serve in team leadership roles or as subject area experts.

Responsibilities

• Work with a multidisciplinary team to reduce thermal risk by identifying constraining elements of a thermal design and recommend mitigation strategies from concept through design, production, and operation.
• Translate spacecraft CONOPS (Concept of Operations) into representative thermal design scenarios in collaboration with spacecraft system engineers.
• Develop thermal models of active and passive thermal designs using numerical solutions and hand calculations for spacecraft systems, subsystems, avionics, and mechanisms to predict temperature margins in various thermal space environments.
• Participate in spacecraft build and testing campaigns related to thermal design, including off-hours or on-call work.
• Develop thermal verification test plans, support test activities, monitor and correlate test results to model predictions.
• Prepare technical documents and PowerPoint presentations to present analysis and test results to managers, customers, and stakeholders.
• Support Business Development activities, including proposals, white papers, and requests for information.
• Develop tools to support concept trade studies and post-processing analysis.
• Other duties as applicable to thermal engineering may be assigned as necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering with a thermal focus or similar discipline.
• 2+ years of experience (Engineer - Level II) or 5+ years of experience (Sr. Engineer - Level III) in thermal engineering or related disciplines specific to spacecraft.
• Must have experience leading teams and mentoring entry-level engineers (Level III).
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop is required.
• Understanding of basic principles of radiation and conduction heat transfer, space environment heating effects, and parameters associated with spaceflight applications.
• Deep understanding of orbital mechanics and thermal design considerations for MEO, LEO, GEO, and other orbits.
• Proven knowledge of spacecraft mission design and associated subsystems/architecture as relates to thermal design.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft thermal design management and surface treatments.
• Experience with process development related to thermal analysis methods, testing methods, or model correlation.
• Knowledge of environmental requirements, engineering, thermal vacuum/ambient pressure testing, and hands-on project experience, including use of data acquisition systems.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, start-up environment with a strong desire to be a leader/key contributor on a small team.
• Highly responsible team player with a positive attitude and excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Experience with SolidWorks or other CAD software.
• Experience developing detailed and simplified thermal models for spacecraft systems, subsystems, and components.
• Proficiency with computational scripting languages (MATLAB, Python, Mathematica, etc.).
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with a thermal focus or similar discipline (substitutes for two years of experience).
• Ph.D. degree (substitutes for five years of experience).
• Experience with technical leadership responsibilities, such as serving on Risk Reduction teams or as a Subject Area Expert.
• Ownership of technical issues with respect to Engineering Review Boards, NCRs, and other engineering anomalies, with the expectation of resolution.
• Experience with build integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical, and structural systems, including vibration, shock, thermal, vacuum, and radiation testing.
• Experience in a production environment within the space/aerospace industry.

Pay

Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (Level II): $100,000 – $130,000 USD

Sr. Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (Level III): $130,000 – $215,000 USD

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case based on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents.
• 401(k) match.
• Flexible Time Off (FTO).
• Education reimbursement.
• Competitive paid parental leave.
• Employee referrals and company swag.

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. We provide end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers.

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The role is generally sedentary with substantial computer usage but requires the ability to sit or stand for long durations, bend, reach, and walk. The employee may need to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment within a manufacturing company. Routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners is required.