Thermal Engineer III - Spacecraft Programs

Where You’ll Make an Impact

Lead development of high-fidelity spacecraft thermal models for prediction of on-orbit performance
Own spacecraft-level thermal architecture, including active and passive thermal control design
Review, refine, and correlate as-built thermal models and vendor-supplied thermal documentation
Provide expert recommendations to mitigate thermal risks across spacecraft lifecycle phases
Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams to ensure spacecraft designs meet thermal requirements
Support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test planning, execution, correlation, and troubleshooting
Mentor and guide junior thermal engineers; establish best practices and processes for modeling, analysis, and documentation
Develop tools, workflows, and standards within the thermal ecosystem to improve efficiency and repeatability of future programs
Generate simplified models, thermal environments, and interface documentation for suppliers and customers
Review and approve component and assembly designs for thermal flight readiness
Support integration, test, and launch-site operations as the subject-matter expert for spacecraft thermal performance

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of relevant thermal engineering experience (spacecraft strongly preferred)
• Advanced proficiency in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent thermal analysis tools
• Experience with spacecraft flight hardware, integration, and thermal vacuum testing
• Familiarity with NASA, commercial, and industry standards for spacecraft design
• Demonstrated experience correlating thermal models with test data
• Ability to lead technical efforts and operate with a high degree of autonomy

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience with spacecraft operations, thermal limits, and anomaly resolution
• Knowledge of thermal coatings, adhesives, multilayer insulation (MLI), and related materials
• Exposure to electrical component thermal modeling and PCB thermal behavior
• Experience with heat pipes, loop heat pipes, radiators, and advanced thermal hardware
• Understanding of orbital dynamics and thermal environments across varying mission profiles
• Prior experience in a fast-paced startup or NewSpace environment

What You'll Get

• Ownership – Lead spacecraft thermal architecture end-to-end, from modeling to flight readiness
• Innovation – Develop advanced thermal solutions and shape next-gen modeling and test workflows
• Impact – Ensure spacecraft survive and perform in space, directly influencing mission success
• Growth – Expand your technical reach while mentoring engineers and collaborating across teams
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing

Location

Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA

Base Salary

$140,000 - 200,000

Additional Requirements

• To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.