Spacecraft Thermal Engineer Verified today

About Astro Digital

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates small satellite systems for earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California with roughly 100 employees and global infrastructure.

Your Role

You will lead thermal analysis and thermal support across all Astro Digital spacecraft buses. You will build both system-level and unit-level thermal models, work with other engineering disciplines to gather requirements, present analysis results and recommend solutions including thermal coatings, interface materials, heaters, straps and sensors. You will collaborate with test engineers to design and execute thermal vacuum and thermal cycling tests.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field
• 2+ years of experience as a thermal engineer or thermal analyst in the aerospace field using Thermal Desktop
• Deep understanding and intuition of thermal environments and effects
• Proficiency building Thermal Desktop models for spacecraft and subsystems analysis
• Proficiency with thermal hand calculations and back-of-envelope assessments
• Experience with thermal data post-processing (e.g. temperature and heater power data) in Excel or Python
• Experience planning and executing thermal vacuum and thermal cycling testing
• Self-motivated work ethic with desire to learn new thermal analysis aspects
• Good written, verbal, and virtual communication skills
• Willingness to travel approximately 2 times per year to San Jose, CA and Littleton, CO offices and test facilities

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in engineering directly related to thermal analysis or thermal engineering
• Proficiency with SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop User Logic
• Experience correlating thermal models to test data
• Familiarity with version-controlled CAD systems such as Solidworks PDM and Onshape
• Proficiency analysing electronic components at board level using Thermal Desktop
• Experience meshing complex geometry using TD Direct or other meshing software for Thermal Desktop
• Experience modelling and implementing advanced thermal control technologies (heat pipes, PCM, TECs)
• Familiarity with NASA-STD-7000 (GEVS) standards
• Familiarity with SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare requirements

Employment Details

Job Type: Full Time

Location: Hybrid in Littleton, CO (minimum 2 days per week in office; travel 2-3 times per year to San Jose, CA office and test facilities)

Salary: $110,000-170,000 annually depending on experience level

Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance options; 401k matching; 10 floating holidays; 5 sick days; 3 weeks (15 days) PTO per year.

Clearance and Legal Requirements

This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 22 CFR §120.15 and 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3) is required.