Spacecraft Thermal Engineer full_time

Job Summary  

The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly-trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.  

The Thermal Control Department is a team of experienced, trusted engineers with deep expertise in the design and analysis of spacecraft thermal control systems from component to system level. The department performs technical studies, experimental investigations, and real–time assessments to inform and enable key decisions by our customers and their contractors. 

As the Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (Engineering Specialist / Senior Engineering Specialist – Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering), you should have a strong background in the disciplines of heat transfer and thermal engineering and their applications to space systems; and direct experience in thermal design and control of spacecraft. S/He will support both classified and unclassified spacecraft programs with emphasis on classified systems. The successful applicant will engage and advocate for the best solutions, best practices, and best innovations for critical thermal control issues across the enterprise, both inside and outside the organization.  

Work Model 

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA or Chantilly, VA, offering a hybrid work model that combines (4) regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.   

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Key customers are internal program offices representing defense and civil agencies, such as the U.S. Space Force, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and others. 

• You will engage with impact with these internal and external customers to identify, track, and resolve design, workmanship, and performance issues relating to space vehicle and payload thermal control subsystems. 

• You will deliver results as the thermal subject matter expert in thermal control systems for spacecraft and payloads. Lead and conduct analysis, modeling, simulation, experimental investigations, and assessments of designs and design concepts relating to spacecraft thermal control systems and their components.  Participate in and review thermal subsystem requirements, allocations, design, integration, test, and flight operations. 

• You will operate strategically, curating department knowledge and capabilities in thermal systems engineering, thermal analysis and design, and/or thermal control hardware. 

• You will provide thermal engineering technical leadership of teams of 2 or more people in support of programs, inter-department projects, and broad engagement efforts. 

• You should have strong people management skills which includes: training, motivating and directing employees to optimize workplace productivity and promote professional growth 

What You Need to be Successful 

Minimum Requirements for the Engineering Specialist – Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering include: 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or closely related field with emphasis in heat transfer or thermal sciences is required 

• A minimum of (8) years thermal engineering experience is required 

• Experience with the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and operation of spacecraft thermal control systems for all relevant modes of heat transfer, both active and passive, and through all phases of program lifecycle 

• Experience with SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop software; other applicable software includes TSS, EES, SolidWorks, SpaceClaim, CAMEO, and scripting languages such as FORTRAN and Python 

• Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycle, and other environmental test programs 

• Demonstrated initiative and excellent leadership skills, with proven ability to build and manage effective engineering teams of (2) or more people with delivery of expected results 

• Willingness to occasionally travel to customer or contractor facilities approximately 10% time   

• This position requires a current and active Secret security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. The ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance will be required (applicant will be submitted for this clearance upon hiring if they do not currently possess it). U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. 

 In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Engineering Specialist – Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering include:  

• (12)+ years thermal engineering experience is preferred   

• Have provided thermal engineering support at a system level for at least 3 different spacecraft programs, encompassing at least two major phases (e.g., Architecture, Design, Manufacturing, Test, Flight) for each program 

• Experience leading integrated-team thermal engineering efforts: innovation projects, concurrent engineering, digital engineering, vehicle-level thermal design, hosted or multiple-payload missions, anomaly and root-cause investigation involving 3 or more people 

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Advanced degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or closely related field with emphasis in heat transfer or thermal sciences is preferred 

• (15)+ years direct spacecraft thermal engineering experience is highly desirable 

• Deep knowledge of cryogenics, two-phase thermophysics, or thermodynamics is strongly preferred 

• Experience in adjacent engineering disciplines for spaceflight hardware: systems engineering, control systems, fluid or propulsion systems, power systems, flight software and telemetry systems, integration and test is preferred 

• Current and active TS/SCI clearance (SSBI), which is issued by the U.S. government, is strongly preferred. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.