Thermal Engineer
About the role
Rendezvous Robotics is a small team based in Golden, Colorado, focused on developing electromagnetic self-assembling tiles for spacecraft. We are seeking a Mid to Senior Level Thermal Engineer to lead the thermal management systems for our innovative technology.
Responsibilities
- Own the thermal architecture and thermal-control subsystem end to end—from requirements and concept through design, qualification, flight, and on-orbit operation.
- Design, select, and size thermal-control hardware—radiators, MLI, coatings, heaters, thermostats, heat pipes, conductive interfaces, and thermal interface materials.
- Build, refine, and correlate detailed thermal models; perform steady-state and transient analyses across mission phases and environments.
- Evaluate orbital thermal environments (solar, albedo, planetary IR), eclipse transitions, and radiator and heater sizing.
- Define thermal requirements, allocate margins, and drive system-level trade studies and architecture decisions.
- Support coupled thermo-structural assessments.
- Plan, execute, and correlate thermal-vacuum and thermal-balance tests, including test-article configuration and instrumentation strategy.
- Document analysis and design outputs, present findings to stakeholders, and mentor junior engineers in thermal best practices.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of spacecraft or aerospace thermal design and analysis experience.
- Demonstrated ownership of thermal-control hardware design: sizing and selecting radiators, MLI, heaters, coatings, and conductive interfaces, not analysis alone.
- Proficiency with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ESATAN, or a comparable node-based or Python thermal solver.
- Hands-on knowledge of thermal-control hardware: MLI, OSR/radiator films, Kapton heaters, thermostats, surface coatings (α/ε), heat pipes, and conductive interfaces.
- Solid understanding of space thermal environments and their effects on materials and hardware.
- Experience defining thermal requirements and allocating thermal margins.
Preferred Qualifications
- Thermal-vacuum and thermal-balance test planning, execution, and model correlation.
- Proficiency with Python for analysis automation and comfort owning analysis code.
- Understanding of battery and electronics thermal limits (e.g., Li-ion charge/discharge windows).
- Experience defining heater-control, thermostat, or survival-heater approaches with electrical and avionics teams.
- Experience with modular spacecraft, in-space assembly, robotics, or autonomous space systems.
- Proficiency with CAD tools for integrating thermal hardware into mechanical assemblies.
- Familiarity with NASA thermal standards.
- Experience in a startup or fast-iteration hardware environment.
Pay
Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000
Senior Engineer: $140,000 - $170,000
Schedule
This is a full-time, on-site role in Golden, Colorado.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
- Short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Life insurance.
- Paid parental leave.
- 3 weeks of paid vacation.
- 10 or more paid holidays per year.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications, and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.