The Role
The Thermal Engineer will act as a technical lead responsible for the thermal design, analysis, and validation of advanced engineering systems operating in demanding environments. This role involves developing thermal system architectures, performing detailed analyses, supporting test activities, and contributing to full lifecycle development. You will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver optimized designs that ensure components remain within operational and survival temperature limits.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform thermal design and analysis at component, subsystem, and system levels
- Develop and maintain thermal models to predict heat loads, temperature distributions, and performance margins
- Lead thermal design efforts for complex systems and support integration activities
- Generate and assess design concepts using industry-standard thermal and simulation tools
- Design and implement passive and active thermal control solutions (e.g., heat transport devices, radiative surfaces, insulation systems, heaters, and sensors)
- Conduct thermal analysis for complex mechanical and electronic hardware, including precision assemblies and packaged electronics
- Support the design, fabrication, and installation of thermal insulation systems
- Lead and support environmental testing, including thermal vacuum and thermal balance campaigns
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- Several years of hands-on experience in thermal engineering within high-performance or regulated engineering environments
- Strong foundation in heat transfer and thermodynamics
- Experience supporting hardware through environmental testing and validation phases
- Knowledge of thermal control system design and implementation
- Understanding of environmental constraints and design considerations for extreme operating conditions
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical information
- Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional engineering teams
- Adaptability in fast-paced development environments
Preferred Skills & Experience
- Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline
- Experience with system-level thermal trade studies and optimization
- Familiarity with scripting or automation tools for analysis workflows (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar)
- Experience in early-stage or rapidly evolving engineering organizations
- Background in mentoring or developing engineering best practices within a team
