Cowboyspace

Thermal Engineer

San Carlos, CA or Seattle, WA · Exec

Work authorization required$150k-$200kDetected 72 days ago

PythonANSYSThermal AnalysisAvionicsMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringCollaborationThermodynamics

About the role

This role will focus on developing thermal control strategies for high-power laser systems, high-power compute platforms, spacecraft electronics, and structural components operating in extreme space environments.
The ideal candidate will have experience with spacecraft thermal design, analysis, testing, and on-orbit demonstration, ensuring reliable performance in Low Earth Orbit.

Thermal System Design: Develop spacecraft thermal management architectures, including active and passive cooling solutions for high-power and high-heat-flux components.
Thermal System Optimization: After developing component- and system-level models, identify overall optimum solutions that consider overall size, weight and power.
Thermal Testing & Validation: Develop, support and execute thermal cycle and thermal-vacuum tests to demonstrate flight-worthiness of components, subsystems and spacecraft.
Integration with Mechanical & Electrical Systems: Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and build and test engineers to ensure seamless integration of thermal management solutions.
Reliability & Safety: Conduct failure mode analysis and implement redundancy in thermal control systems.
Collaboration: Work with optics, avionics, and propulsion teams to address thermal constraints in system design.
Develop spacecraft thermal management architectures, including active and passive cooling solutions for high-power and high-heat-flux components.
Develop, support and execute thermal cycle and thermal-vacuum tests to demonstrate flight-worthiness of components, subsystems and spacecraft.
Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and build and test engineers to ensure seamless integration of thermal management solutions.
Conduct failure mode analysis and implement redundancy in thermal control systems.

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
3+ years of experience in thermal analysis and design of spacecraft thermal systems.
Proficiency with thermal modeling software such as ANSYS Thermal Desktop.
Strong understanding of thermodynamics and heat transfer fundamentals.

Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
5+ years of experience designing thermal systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles and/or high-power and heat-flux applications.
Hands-on experience with spacecraft thermal integration and flight testing.
Experience with OpenTD and python scripting.
10 paid holidays per calendar year
Relocation assistance if applicable
Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
ITAR Requirements

Utilize thermal simulation tools such as ANSYS Thermal Desktop to predict system behavior in space conditions.

This listing is sourced directly from Cowboyspace's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.