Senior Thermal Engineer

Senior Thermal Engineer

Location: Los Angeles Area

About the Company

We are supporting an innovative aerospace and defense company developing next-generation spacecraft, satellite systems, and advanced space technologies. The organization is focused on delivering high-performance, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for the aerospace industry

With a strong emphasis on rapid development, hardware innovation, and vertical integration, the company is expanding its engineering capabilities to support new spacecraft platforms and high-volume production programs.

The ideal candidate will have extensive spacecraft thermal engineering experience, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to develop innovative thermal management solutions for high-power electronics and complex aerospace systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Define spacecraft thermal control architecture, evaluating passive thermal management, heat pipes, pumped fluid loops, and radiator sizing and placement.

• Perform system-level and component-level thermal analyses across multiple spacecraft configurations and operating conditions.

• Develop thermal management solutions for high-power-density electronics and payloads with significant heat dissipation requirements.

• Develop first-order thermal models to support spacecraft design, simulation, and rapid engineering iteration.

• Build, maintain, and validate detailed spacecraft thermal models using industry-standard analysis tools.

• Establish and manage thermal budgets, ensuring component temperatures remain within qualification limits across orbital conditions.

• Evaluate and select thermal coatings, insulation materials, and thermal control components.

• Specify and procure thermal management materials and temperature sensors.

• Plan and execute thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing, including chamber requirements, test profiles, and acceptance criteria.

• Correlate thermal models with environmental test data and refine designs based on results.

• Support solar array thermal analysis and collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.

• Contribute to thermal design of avionics and electronic assemblies, including power dissipation, interface temperatures, and mounting thermal resistance.

• Support the development of repeatable thermal designs suitable for high-volume spacecraft manufacturing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 6+ years of experience in spacecraft or aerospace thermal engineering.

• Demonstrated experience in spacecraft thermal control design and analysis, including passive and active thermal management systems.

• Experience developing and correlating thermal models for flight hardware.

• Background addressing high-power or high-heat-dissipation thermal challenges.

• Knowledge of spacecraft thermal control hardware, including radiators, heat pipes, thermal straps, multilayer insulation (MLI), and thermal coatings.

• Experience planning, executing, or supporting thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing.

• Ability to contribute to early-stage spacecraft architecture decisions and develop engineering recommendations with evolving technical requirements.

• Proficiency with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA, ESATAN, or equivalent software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

• Experience supporting multi-spacecraft production programs or repeatable thermal designs.

• Experience with high-power-density electronics and advanced thermal management solutions.

• Thermal design experience involving payloads with variable operating conditions or duty cycles.

• Experience with cryogenic systems or specialized thermal control technologies.

• Experience taking spacecraft thermal systems from conceptual design through qualification and flight delivery.