Mid Level Thermal Analyst - Nebula

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Machines, LLC in Houston, TX, is seeking a Mid-Level Thermal Analyst to join our team building lunar and cislunar spacecraft. The role emphasizes development and validation of thermal models for launch, transit, lunar orbit, and surface operations, with emphasis on both ATCS and PTCS design.

The ideal candidate has 3–7 years of spacecraft thermal analysis experience, hands-on Thermal Desktop expertise, and a solid foundation in heat transfer and thermodynamics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3-7 years specifically dedicated to spacecraft thermal analysis.
• Proven hands-on proficiency with Thermal Desktop.
• Strong core understanding of heat transfer principles and thermodynamics.

Responsibilities

• Thermal Modeling & Analysis: Develop, maintain, and run high-fidelity thermal models (using Thermal Desktop) to predict steady-state and transient temperature distributions across all mission phases.
• Thermal Design: Design active and passive thermal control systems (ATCS/PTCS). Select and procure thermal hardware like thermal tapes, MLI, heaters, and thermal interface materials (TIMs).
• Testing & Model Correlation: Support thermal verification and validation activities, including test planning, thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing, and correlating test data back to analytical models.
• Generate TPS Documentation: Produce the vehicle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) document, providing clear, actionable instructions for the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) team to accurately apply thermal solutions to the flight hardware.
• Prepare Design Review Packages: Summarize complex analysis data, generate clear presentation decks, and present technical results during design review meetings to defend findings and align stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Data Gathering: Collaborate proactively with structures, propulsion, avionics, and power teams to identify thermal requirements and collect the necessary environments, power dissipation profiles, and physical geometries required to build comprehensive thermal models.

Skills

Heat transfer fundamentals

Thermal analysis

Thermal modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

ANSYS Mechanical

FloCAD

Job description

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Mid Level Thermal Analyst - Nebula

Full Time Houston, TX, US

Thermal Analyst (Mid-Level)

Houston, TX

About Intuitive Machines:

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With multiple NASA lunar missions in development and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting NASA, our customers, and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

About the Position:

Intuitive Machines is seeking a skilled Thermal Analysis Engineer to join our expanding team in Houston. We are actively building the next generation of spacecraft for lunar missions, and we need your talent to design, analyze, and test the thermal systems that will make these historic missions successful.

Responsibilities:

• Thermal Modeling & Analysis: Develop, maintain, and run high-fidelity thermal models (using Thermal Desktop) to predict steady-state and transient temperature distributions across all mission phases (Launch, LV Separation, transit, lunar orbit, and surface operations).
• Thermal Design: Design active and passive thermal control systems (ATCS/PTCS). Select and procure thermal hardware like thermal tapes, MLI, heaters, and thermal interface materials (TIMs).
• Testing & Model Correlation: Support thermal verification and validation activities, including test planning, thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing, and correlating test data back to analytical models.
• Generate TPS Documentation: Produce the vehicle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) document, providing clear, actionable instructions for the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) team to accurately apply thermal solutions to the flight hardware.
• Prepare Design Review Packages: Summarize complex analysis data, generate clear presentation decks, and present technical results during design review meetings to defend findings and align stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Data Gathering: Collaborate proactively with structures, propulsion, avionics, and power teams to identify thermal requirements and collect the necessary environments, power dissipation profiles, and physical geometries required to build comprehensive thermal models.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 3 - 7 years specifically dedicated to spacecraft thermal analysis.
• Software: Proven hands-on proficiency with Thermal Desktop.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong core understanding of heat transfer principles and thermodynamics

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with ANSYS Mechanical.
• Experience with FloCAD.

US EEO Statement:

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.