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Thermal Engineer - Own the thermal architecture behind next-generation spacecraft from design through on-orbit operation

Denver, Colorado | On-site

Opportunity Summary

This role will own the thermal architecture and thermal-control strategy for advanced spacecraft hardware from initial requirements through analysis, qualification, flight, and on-orbit operation. You will be responsible for both the analytical and hardware sides of the discipline, including detailed thermal modeling, radiator and heater sizing, MLI, coatings, conductive interfaces, thermal-vacuum testing, and system-level trade studies. You will work closely with mechanical, electrical, avionics, systems, and test engineers while serving as a technical authority for thermal performance across the program.

About Us

We are a venture-backed space technology company developing advanced modular spacecraft systems designed to operate, connect, and reconfigure in orbit. The team is small, highly technical, and progressing from flight demonstration toward operational systems. Engineers have broad ownership and work directly on hardware that must perform reliably across demanding launch and space environments.

Job Duties

• Own spacecraft thermal architecture from early requirements through qualification, flight, and on-orbit operation
• Define thermal requirements, operating limits, margins, and verification strategies across spacecraft systems
• Design, select, and size thermal-control hardware including radiators, MLI, heaters, thermostats, coatings, heat pipes, and conductive interfaces
• Build and maintain detailed spacecraft thermal models
• Perform steady-state and transient thermal analysis across mission phases
• Evaluate orbital heating environments including solar loading, albedo, planetary infrared, and eclipse transitions
• Size radiator area, heater power, and thermal-control hardware based on system requirements
• Perform trade studies that balance thermal performance with power, mechanical, avionics, and mission constraints
• Provide data-driven recommendations to guide spacecraft architecture and hardware design
• Support coupled thermal and structural assessments
• Plan and execute thermal-vacuum and thermal-balance test campaigns
• Define test-article configuration, instrumentation, and thermal test profiles
• Correlate analytical models with physical test data and improve model fidelity based on results
• Support hardware integration, troubleshooting, and thermal anomaly investigations
• Document thermal analyses, design decisions, and qualification results
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and help establish thermal engineering methods and best practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of spacecraft, aerospace, or similarly demanding thermal engineering experience
• Experience owning thermal-control hardware from design through testing and qualification
• Strong understanding of spacecraft thermal environments and heat-transfer fundamentals
• Experience sizing and selecting radiators, MLI, heaters, coatings, and conductive interfaces
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ESATAN, or comparable thermal modeling tools
• Hands-on knowledge of thermal-control hardware and thermal interface materials
• Experience defining thermal requirements and allocating appropriate thermal margins
• Ability to translate thermal analysis into practical hardware and system design decisions
• Strong communication skills across mechanical, electrical, systems, avionics, and test disciplines
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems in a fast-moving development environment

Preferred Experience

• Thermal-vacuum and thermal-balance test planning, execution, and model correlation
• Proficiency with Python for thermal analysis, automation, or data processing
• Experience developing or maintaining custom thermal-analysis tools
• Understanding of battery and electronics thermal limits
• Experience defining heater-control, survival-heater, or thermostat strategies
• Familiarity with thermal design of spacecraft avionics and electronics
• Experience with heat pipes and other passive thermal transport systems
• Familiarity with optical surface properties, coatings, and radiator materials
• Experience integrating thermal-control hardware into mechanical assemblies
• Proficiency with CAD tools
• Familiarity with NASA or similar spacecraft thermal standards
• Experience with modular spacecraft, robotics, autonomous systems, or in-space assembly
• Previous experience in a startup or rapid hardware development environment

Why Join Us

• Own the thermal architecture of spacecraft hardware from concept through on-orbit operation
• Work across analysis, thermal hardware, environmental testing, spacecraft integration, and flight
• Serve as a technical authority in a small engineering team with significant individual ownership
• Help shape spacecraft-level architecture through thermal trade studies and design decisions
• Build and qualify hardware for demanding launch and orbital environments
• Equity participation through stock options
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Three weeks of paid vacation
• Ten or more paid holidays annually

Compensation Details

$125,000 - $165,000

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