Senior Thermal Engineer

ICEYE Oy; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

ICEYE Oy in Warsaw, Poland, is seeking a Thermal Engineer to own the thermal design of the next-generation satellite platform and imaging payload. You will work across simulation, hardware, and test to ensure precise thermal stability and successful qualification through TVAC and thermal balance tests.

As a founding member of a small team, you will lead design from concept to in-orbit validation, actively participating in thermal hardware assembly and testing, with close collaboration to

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge and hands-on skills in spacecraft thermal design and optimization.
• Guide material selection for the space environment (outgassing, thermal cycling).
• Experience with TVAC or thermal balance testing and model correlation.
• Proven ability to drive thermal design from concept to integration.
• Hands-on experience with heat pipes, MLI, and active thermal control components.
• Familiar with multiple thermal analysis tools listed above.

Responsibilities

• Be a founding member of the spacecraft thermals team, guiding design from concept to in-orbit validation.
• Lead thermal design and optimization of the satellite platform and interfaces between bus and payload.
• Hands-on participation in thermal hardware assembly and testing activities.
• Perform system-level thermal analysis and drive hardware selection with suppliers.
• Specify qualification tests and ensure thermal performance meets requirements.
• Collaborate with subcontractors during development and testing phases.
• Maintain thermal control component definitions across assembly, integration, and test.

Skills

Thermal design

Hands-on hardware

System-level analysis

TVAC testing

Thermal control hardware

Materials guidance

Tools

Systema-Thermica

ESATAN

Thermal Desktop

Simcenter 3D

Job description

Role highlights:

• Thermal Engineer

• Location: Warsaw, Poland

• Department: Engineering/Optical Systems

• Reports to: Engineering Lead, Mechanical Engineering

• Employment type: Permanent

• Workplace model: Hybrid

• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)
  

Why this role matters:

As a Thermal Engineer, you will own the thermal design of ICEYE's next generation satellite platform and its imaging payload, making sure both stay within temperature limits and hold the precise thermal stability the instrument needs. Working hands-on across simulation, hardware, and test, you will drive thermal analysis at system level, take ownership of thermal control hardware from concept and supplier selection through validation, and guide material choices for the space environment. As a founding member of a small team, you will follow the design through every stage of the product lifecycle, from concept and prototyping to assembly, integration, TVAC and thermal balance testing, qualification, and in-orbit validation.

Who We Are

ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.

ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.

ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Your day-to-day responsibilities

• Be a key founding member of the small team responsible for the spacecraft systems lifecycle, from design up to in-orbit validation. The team will bring the design into full production, commissioning, and operations of the imaging instrument, including all phases along the way: testing, qualification, verification, and iterating on necessary steps.

• Be a technical leader for thermal design and optimization of the satellite platform and the interfaces between bus and payload. Due to the nature of the project and the size of the founding "tiger team", you're expected to actively (hands-on) participate in thermal hardware assembly and other engineering activities, including thermal testing and close cooperation with other team members.

• Drive thermal design and simulation of the next-generation satellite, performing thermal analysis at the system level.

• Collaborate with subcontractors during the development phase.

• Specify and support qualification tests at the system level, making sure thermal performance meets requirements.

• Take ownership of thermal hardware: propose new concepts to optimize thermal performance, propose new suppliers, and test and validate the design.

• Support assembly, integration, and test activities: maintain thermal control component definitions and specify qualification tests.

What we’re looking for

Must haves:

• Expert knowledge and hands-on skills in spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and optimization, across all phases of the project from concept up to qualification and integration.

• Familiarity with material science and engineering, able to guide material selection and analysis for the space environment (outgassing, thermal cycling, thermoelastic effects). Experience with structural and thermo-mechanical analysis is required.

• Familiarity with testing methods such as TVAC and/or thermal balance testing, including pre-launch qualification campaigns and model correlation.

• Experience in precise thermal stability control.

• Embracing the challenge, with a mindset of owning problems and solving them, and the capability of taking risks and leaning forward when needed. R&D style of learning by doing and iterating on the parts that require improvement.

• Hands-on experience with thermal spacecraft hardware: heat pipes, surface treatments, MLI, and active thermal control components.

• Knowledge of Systema-Thermica, ESATAN, Thermal Desktop, and/or Simcenter 3D.

• Good understanding of spacecraft dynamics, orbital movement, and orbit evolution.

Nice to haves:

• Experience with thermal design for high-precision optical systems and/or high-precision actuated systems.

• Experience with thermal aspects of electric propulsion systems.

• Experience with vacuum and cryogenic applications and materials used in the aerospace industry.

Application Process

• Talent Attraction Screening

• Hiring Manager Screening

• Onsite workshop + Technical discussion

• Interview with Leadership
  

Working at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (Our Values)

Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the "why" behind decisions.

• See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.

• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.

• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.

• Have fun: What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.
  

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help.

Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com.