Spacecraft Thermal Engineer

The role

You will co-own thermal control design for the first spacecraft and GEO platform. You will build and correlate thermal models, run chamber tests, and stand up thermal test capabilities.

What you will do

• Co-own thermal control design for the first spacecraft and GEO platform
• Build and correlate Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT models
• Deliver optical bench temperature maps for STOP analysis
• Specify and procure flight thermal hardware
• Stand up thermal test capability including TVAC chamber upgrades
• Plan and run thermal balance and thermal cycle tests
• Define thermal cycling profiles with the structures analyst
• Support 2027 spacecraft integration at partner facilities
• Defend thermal design at peer and mission reviews
• Write thermal design, analysis, and test standards

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Physics, or a closely related field
• 3–8 years of spacecraft thermal design and analysis experience
• At least one thermal design carried from Thermal Desktop model through thermal vacuum test and correlation
• Working proficiency in Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT, or a comparable tool
• Hands-on chamber time: instrumenting hardware, running a test, and reducing the data
• Working knowledge of spacecraft thermal control hardware: temperature sensors, heaters, phase-change materials, heat pipes, MLI, and thermal control coatings
• Python, MATLAB, or Excel VBA to automate analysis and test data reduction

Nice to have

• M.S. in a relevant engineering or physics discipline
• Thermal hardware you designed that has flown
• STOP analysis on an optical payload
• Board and box-level electronics thermal design for space
• Standing up or upgrading a thermal test facility
• Heat pipes, loop heat pipes, or deployable radiators for high-heat-flux payloads
• Flight thermal hardware integration and test planning
• Buying thermal hardware from a supplier and verifying it against the spec
• Writing a proposal for, or leading, an SBIR or other technology development effort

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Equity
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage
• Health and wellness stipend
• 4 weeks paid time off
• 2 weeks sick leave
• Parental leave
• 401(k) matching

Before you apply

• Subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR
• Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of Sta

About the company

Overview Energy is a mission-driven team building satellites in geosynchronous orbit to redirect solar energy to terrestrial solar projects via passively safe near-infrared light. Headquartered in the Northern Virginia / Washington, DC area, they are advancing next generation clean energy technology.