Senior FEA & Thermal Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative Earth-imaging company is seeking a skilled engineer to lead structural and thermal analysis for cutting-edge space systems. This pivotal role involves developing high-fidelity models and validating thermal control strategies to support the design and operation of advanced spacecraft. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring that analyses align with hardware implementation and system requirements. Join this forward-thinking firm and contribute to impactful projects aimed at addressing global challenges through advanced space technology. With opportunities for career growth and a supportive work environment, this position is perfect for those passionate about aerospace engineering.

Benefits

Private Medical Healthcare

Company Pension Plan

25 days holiday plus UK bank holidays

Annual professional development allowance

Cycle to Work scheme

Tech Purchase schemes

Team socials and community events

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in structural and thermal analysis in aerospace.
• Strong understanding of thermal control system design and material behavior.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural and thermal analysis for spacecraft assemblies.
• Develop finite element models and perform thermal simulations.
• Generate technical documentation for design reviews and certification.

Skills

Structural Analysis

Thermal Analysis

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Technical Documentation

Collaboration Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

COMSOL

NASTRAN

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

SolidWorks

Python

Job description

Job Description

About SuperSharp

Super-Sharp Space Systems is an Earth-imaging company developing unfolding space telescopes to capture high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) images of the earth. Our technology allows us to fit a large telescope in a small box, enabling low-cost, high-resolution, and frequent Earth-imaging. This makes powerful TIR space telescopes more affordable while achieving 4x greater resolution than current solutions. The images captured can be used for applications such as climate change monitoring, crop analysis, and global security. We aim to provide high-quality, affordable Earth-imaging solutions to help address global challenges.

Role Overview

This position involves developing, executing, and validating structural and thermal models to support the design, testing, and operation of space systems. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in spacecraft analysis, strong technical judgment, and the ability to collaborate across design, systems, and test engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead structural and thermal analysis activities for spacecraft assemblies and subsystems.
2. Develop high-fidelity finite element models and perform static, dynamic, and thermal simulations.
3. Define and validate thermal control strategies using passive and active components.
4. Correlate analytical models with test data from vibration, thermal vacuum, and shock tests.
5. Generate technical documentation for design reviews, qualification, and flight certification.
6. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure analysis aligns with hardware implementation and system requirements.
7. Contribute to the development of internal standards and methodologies for structural and thermal analysis.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (Master’s preferred) in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in structural and thermal analysis within aerospace or space sectors.
• Proficiency with FEA and thermal analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT.
• Strong understanding of structural dynamics, thermal transport, and material behavior in space environments.
• Knowledge of thermal control system design, including radiators, insulation, and heaters.
• Ability to deliver accurate, validated analyses supporting hardware design and qualification.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in technical documentation.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience supporting spaceflight hardware through development, testing, and launch phases.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards such as ECSS, NASA-STD, MIL-STD.
• Experience with CAD tools and scripting languages like SolidWorks and Python.

What SuperSharp Offers

• Impactful role on mission-critical hardware
• Competitive salary and equity options
• Opportunities for technical leadership and career development
• Private Medical Healthcare
• Company Pension Plan with contributions
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• 25 days holiday plus UK bank holidays
• Annual professional development allowance
• Cycle to Work and Tech Purchase schemes
• Team socials and community events

To apply, please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience to [e-mail].