Thermal Engineer Verified today

About AstroForge

AstroForge's mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth through asteroid mining. We extract valuable minerals in space at lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than terrestrial methods. Join a team expanding humanity's capabilities in space.

The Role

We seek a Thermal Engineer to design and operate thermal management systems for our deep space mining spacecraft. You will architect systems from concept through detailed design, analysis, and testing. This role demands strong spacecraft thermal principles knowledge, problem-solving skills, and cross-team collaboration.

What You Will Do

• Architect end-to-end thermal control systems including radiators, multi-layer insulation, heaters, sensors, and thermal coatings.
• Conduct conceptual trades to evaluate architectural options against mission requirements, environmental conditions, and system performance.
• Design, build, and execute thermal vacuum tests, bake-out tests, and environmental validation tests. Apply test-like-you-fly principles and correlate results with thermal models.
• Collaborate with structural, electrical, propulsion, and mission operations teams to understand thermal constraints and optimize spacecraft design.
• Document thermal analysis, design decisions, test plans, and results. Establish internal tools and processes to streamline design iterations.
• Provide technical feedback during design reviews and improve company processes.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years professional experience in spacecraft thermal conceptual and detailed design, development, and operations.
• Familiarity with spacecraft environments: vacuum, solar radiation, and deep space temperatures.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles (conduction, convection, radiation) and thermodynamics.
• Ability to perform thermal analysis including hand calculations and basic modeling.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Seal Beach, CA.

Preferred Skills

• 5+ years spacecraft thermal design, development, and operations experience.
• Experience with CAD and thermal modeling tools: NX and Simcenter Space Systems Thermal or similar software.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: Level II $125,250-$148,500 / Level III $140,250-$168,500 / Level IV $160,250-$210,500
• 100% paid medical, dental, and life insurance
• Vision and FSA benefits
• 3 weeks PTO plus 1 week sick time
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Equity on the ground floor

ITAR Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Government authorizations.