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Tvac Jobs (NOW HIRING)

K2 Space

Senior Thermal Analyst

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$140K - $230K/yr

This is an analysis and simulation-focused role: you won't be sizing hardware or running TVAC campaigns yourself, but your models will directly inform the engineers who do. You will partner with ...

K2 Space

Principal RF Antenna Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$200K - $270K/yr

Qualify radio-frequency and antenna hardware through environmental testing, including vibration, shock, thermal, and thermal vacuum (TVAC) * Assist with design and validation testing for radio ...

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Tvac information

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How much do tvac jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for tvac in the United States is $23.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $28.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a TVAC?

TVAC typically stands for Thermal Vacuum Chamber technician or engineer, a role involved in the aerospace industry. These professionals operate and maintain thermal vacuum chambers used to test spacecraft and components in conditions that simulate outer space. Their responsibilities include setting up tests, monitoring equipment, and ensuring safety protocols. TVAC jobs require knowledge of vacuum systems, thermodynamics, and often a background in engineering or physical sciences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a TVAC technician?

To thrive as a TVAC (Thermal Vacuum Chamber) Technician, you need a solid background in mechanical or electrical engineering principles, typically supported by a relevant technical degree or certification. Competence with vacuum systems, thermal cycling equipment, and data acquisition software is essential. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are critical soft skills for ensuring precise test execution and troubleshooting. These skills and qualities are vital for maintaining equipment integrity, achieving accurate test results, and supporting mission-critical aerospace or satellite projects.

What are some common challenges faced by TVAC engineers, and how can candidates prepare for them?

TVAC engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining precise environmental control and troubleshooting complex vacuum systems during testing. Candidates should be prepared to work with multidisciplinary teams, adapt quickly to unexpected technical issues, and communicate clearly with project stakeholders. Developing strong problem-solving skills and gaining hands-on experience with vacuum chambers, instrumentation, and data analysis can help prospective TVAC engineers excel in this demanding yet rewarding role.

What is the difference between Tvac vs X-ray Technician?

AspectTvacX-ray Technician
CertificationsCertified in radiation safety and imagingCertified Radiologic Technologist (CRT) or ARRT certification
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, diagnostic labsHospitals, outpatient centers, imaging clinics
Industry UsageMedical imaging, diagnostic proceduresMedical imaging, diagnostic radiography
Common Search IntentTvac vs X-ray TechnicianTvac vs X-ray Technician

Tvac and X-ray Technicians both work in medical imaging environments and require similar certifications. While Tvac may focus more on specific imaging techniques, X-ray Technicians typically have broader radiologic training. Both roles are essential in diagnostic settings, often overlapping in work environment and industry usage.

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What states have the most Tvac jobs?

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What job categories do people searching Tvac jobs look for?

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Tvac jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tvac job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,571 per year, or $23.8 per hour.

Sr. Thermal Engineer - Spacecraft Analysis, AI Satellites (Starmind)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 150 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 72 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. THERMAL ENGINEER (SPACECRAFT ANALYSIS), AI SATELLITES (STARMIND)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world's largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Scaling AI in space is a thermal problem as much as a power and processing problem. With a dense compute payload dissipating hundreds of kilowatts, the thermal system must efficiently transfer heat to large radiators that reject it to space, under solar load, eclipse, and multi-mode AI duty cycles.
You will join the Starmind Thermal team, which owns the satellite cooling stack end-to-end. Dense AI compute at hundreds of kilowatts, rejected only by radiation under solar load, eclipse, and multi-mode duty cycles, has never been flown at constellation scale, and the vehicle-level thermal model is how that problem gets defined for everyone else. As a Senior Thermal Engineer focused on spacecraft analysis, you own that model and the mission environments the thermal and broader vehicle team design against: orbital and ground boundary conditions, system thermal budgets, heat-rejection architecture trades, and vehicle-level prediction through ground and TVAC correlation (with flight telemetry as the program matures). You sit where incomplete concepts become clear thermal design criteria, partnering with fluids analysts and hardware owners so margins close in analysis, test, and flight.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Own the vehicle-level thermal model for Starmind satellites
  • Define environments across entire vehicle lifecycle, including ground test, launch, operations, and disposal
  • Drive heat-rejection architecture trades: radiator area, mass, optical properties, heater/survival power
  • Own the system thermal budget: dissipation allocation, heater loads, min/max temps vs. limits
  • Own integrated TVAC/thermal balance tests from inputs, to pre-test prediction, instrumentation selection, live test support, through post-test correlation.
  • Define component-level thermal inputs for qualification, reliability, and acceptance testing.
  • Evaluate on-orbit performance to improve model accuracy, drive key hardware upgrades, and increase operational efficiency
  • Automate analysis workflows for re-running trades as designs and environments change

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of professional experience in thermal analysis

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Master's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
  • Spacecraft or high-power vehicle-level thermal-fluid modeling in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT (or equivalent)
  • Steady-state and transient analysis under varied environments, workloads and thermal control modes
  • Hands on hardware TVAC/thermal testing inclusive of instrumentation selection and model correlation
  • Selection of materials and finishes for thermal performance in orbital environments
  • Scripting analysis workflows and post-processing (Python preferred)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
  • Some travel may occasionally be required

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US

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