2026 Thermal Analyst

aero; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) Plan with company-paid benefits

Flexible spending accounts

Education assistance programs

Job summary

aero is seeking a Thermal Analyst (Senior Member of Technical Staff) in El Segundo, California. This full-time position involves supporting thermal environments for launch and reentry vehicles, working closely with internal and external customers.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, a background in heat and mass transfer, and strong communication skills. Benefits include a competitive salary between $120,000 and $140,000 annually, along with comprehensive health care plans and professional growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
• 0-1 years of industry experience.
• Background in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct analyses, modeling, and review functions for heat transfer and fluid mechanics.
• Assess steady and transient heat and mass transfer with various boundary conditions.
• Participate with multi-disciplinary engineering teams to resolve technical issues.

Skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Project management

Education

PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Job description

The Thermal Physics Section within the Fluid Mechanics Department is looking for a Thermal Analyst (Senior Member of Technical Staff – Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering) to provide design and analysis support for the thermal environments of launch and reentry vehicles. The qualified candidate works with internal and external customers as a technical authority in the physics of heat and mass transfer.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Conduct analyses, modeling, planning, and review functions associated with heat transfer and fluid mechanics pertaining to launch and reentry vehicles
• Assess steady and transient heat and mass transfer with wide variety of boundary conditions, including coupled physics and phase change
• Participate with multi-disciplinary engineering teams to resolve technical issues
• Perform day‑of‑launch activities at on‑site facilities and national launch sites
• Support on‑site and off‑site technical interchange meetings, review of contractor analyses, as well as hardware and mission assurance reviews
• Maintain technical currency and stay abreast of advances in the areas of heat transfer and fluid mechanics related to launch and reentry vehicles
• Provide objective technical viewpoints to government and civil customers
• Work closely with program offices and interface with contractors, government personnel, research laboratories, and academia
• Apply strong written and oral written communication skills
• Work effectively both independently and with teams

What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Effective teamwork
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need
• Effective interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements:

• PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0‑1 years of industry experience
• Background in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics theory
• Familiarity in one or more of the following areas: pyrolysis/ablation, component/system thermal modeling, aeroheating
• Experience in computational thermal analysis or fluid dynamics
• Willingness/ability to travel domestically approx. 10 % of the time
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance
• Transcripts required

How You Can Stand Out

• Graduate-level course work in convective and radiative heat transfer, mass transfer, and incompressible and compressible flows
• Experience in pyrolysis/ablation, component thermal modeling, thermal qualification testing, and/or aeroheating
• Experience in use of computational thermal analysis and fluid dynamics
• Experience in use of experimental methods, hardware, and instrumentation

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The salary paid annually is between $120,000.00 and $140,000.00.

Ways We Reward Our Employees

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company‑paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at [e-mail].

If you need to contact us about your application or privacy concerns, you may also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.