Aerothermal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Canopy Aerospace & Defense

Canopy A&D is built to accelerate the future of advanced materials for space, defense, and maritime systems. Canopy delivers specialized materials and components that carry customers from concept through sustainment. Canopy A&D’s advanced signal attenuation technologies and production-scale manufacturing accelerate the fielding of platforms that are faster, cooler, and quieter. Our adaptive approach ensures solutions evolve at the pace of shifting challenges, keeping our customers ahead of the curve.

In this role on the Canopy engineering team, you will join the aerothermal team and working with external customers to refine TPS requirements through modeling and simulation. You will work closely with both the TPS design and manufacturing teams to develop effective TPS solutions for Canopy’s customers with platforms across space and hypersonics. You will join a small core team with combined experience managing nuclear weapons systems, starting companies, creating new materials, and flying things to space. To be successful in this role, you must be self‑motivated, thrive in ambiguity, and be able to lead your own projects to completion.

• Engage with external customers to complete trade studies considering aerothermal environment and TPS material response
• Assess ablation and heat transfer for TPS stackups at different levels of fidelity
• Create, mesh, run, and post process computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models
• Responsible for all external and internal flow field simulations
• Calculate pressure, heat flux, and aero buffet/vibration loads for thermal and structures teams
• Participate in the research and development process for new reentry vehicles
• Collaborate cross functionally with design, development, and test groups
• Develop test plans for experimental test campaigns to validate simulation results
• Lead the review of post‑flight data and compare the data to pre‑flight estimates
• Contribute to the development of proposals and new products that enhance the organization’s technical capabilities and support strategic growth objectives

• Demonstrated ability to deliver on tight schedules using scrappy and creative solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in chemistry, physics, structures, materials science, and thermodynamics
• Experience of the entire program lifecycle of a spacecraft, from initial concept to mission success
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant technical field with 2+ years of experience performing vehicle‑level CFD, preferably applied to launch vehicles and/or reentry systems
• Direct experience with thermal analysis and heat transfer simulations
• Experience with thermal protection system sizing & analysis using standard tools like FIAT, CHAR, CBAero, TPSSizer, MINIVER, and/or LAURA
• Familiarity with Python and industry‑standard CFD tools like FUN3D, Star‑CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, or other equivalent applicable tools

• Exposure to aerothermal wind tunnel and flight testing and instrumentation
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g. heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.)
• Program management leadership experience
• Experience performing detailed thermal analysis in programs such as ANSYS static and transient thermal (or equivalent).
• Understanding of TPS manufacturing and integration principles, especially as they related to design for manufacturability/assembly
• Ability to contribute to engineering proposals, driving the conceptualization, trade studies, and technical writing for advanced TPS designs and materials.
• Familiarity with space and defense standards such as but not limited to SMS-S-016, MIL-STD-810, NASA-GSFC-7000 series or other industry equivalent standards for design, analysis, and testing of defense articles or launch vehicles
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher), or the ability to obtain one based on eligibility. This includes meeting background check and other requirements, as required for access to controlled defense‑related information and facilities

• Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English
• Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use
• Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret security clearance

Type: Full Time, Exempt (Salaried)

Salary range: $90,000 to $140,000

Reports to: President, Canopy Technologies

Base Location: Littleton, CO onsite M-F or Irvine, CA onsite M-F

Travel: <20% of the time

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total compensation will also include a comprehensive set of benefits including but not limited to: Company paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance. 401K company match (eligibility required), paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays and discretionary bonuses.

To conform to US Government export regulations, the applicant must be a (i) US Citizen, (ii) lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (aka green card holder), (iii) protected individual as defined by U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Canopy A&D is an Equal Opportunity Employer, employment with Canopy A&D is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skillsrequired. Management may modify or assign additional duties as needed.