Principal Thermal Design Engineer

Mundi; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

A leading aerospace startup in Los Angeles is seeking an experienced thermal design engineer to drive the thermal design of spacecraft subsystems. This role involves collaboration with various teams to develop thermal control hardware and conducting thermal analysis. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in satellite thermal design, demonstrable thermal modeling skills, and familiarity with testing. A comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary in the range of $175,000 to $220,000 plus equity are offered.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with satellite thermal design and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with radiative and conductive thermal modeling of spacecraft systems.
• Experience in thermal vacuum and thermal cycling testing.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Mechanical teams to develop thermal control hardware.
• Partner with Avionics teams to develop thermal tests for electronic assemblies.
• Interface with vendors to understand their design and translate thermal-related requirements.

Skills

Satellite thermal design and analysis

Thermal modeling with Thermal Desktop

Thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing

Experience with thermal control hardware

Automation with Python

Tools

Thermal Desktop

Ansys IcePak

Python

Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest‑power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors—including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others—and an additional $500M in signed contracts with commercial and U.S. government customers, we’re mass‑producing the highest‑power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy‑lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today’s and tomorrow’s massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we’re building bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and you’re excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

You will be a core driver of the detailed thermal design of spacecraft subsystems by running thermal analysis at both the component and spacecraft level. You will also be involved in exploring different thermal management strategies and demonstrating them through test campaigns. Our ideal candidate has experience with in‑orbit integrated thermal analysis of spacecraft components using both first‑principles and analytical models with software tools such as Thermal Desktop, Ansys IcePak, and Python for automation. Hands‑on experience with thermal testing for spacecraft components—thermal cycling and TVAC—is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Mechanical teams to develop passive and active thermal control hardware for the spacecraft, including radiators, heaters, heat pipes, and surface coatings.
• Partner with Avionics teams to develop thermal models and thermal tests for electronic assemblies.
• Work with the GNC teams to define and thermally analyze nominal and contingency cases for in‑orbit operations of the spacecraft.
• Develop and maintain thermal models for spacecraft and sub‑components using Thermal Desktop and Ansys.
• Interface with vendors and launcher providers to understand their design and translate it into thermal‑related requirements.
• Automate data analysis to support architectural trades effectively.
• Set up and execute thermal testing ranging from development to qualification.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with satellite thermal design and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with radiative and conductive thermal modeling of spacecraft systems using Thermal Desktop.
• Experience with selection, sizing, and design of thermal control hardware—including heat pipes, heaters, stickers, OSRs, thermal straps, thermal paints, tapes, MLI, and TEC.
• Experience with thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing, including predictions, setup, instrumentation, and thermal model correlation.

Nice to Have

• Experience with full‑vehicle thermal vacuum testing and model correlation.
• Experience with spacecraft thermal design optimized for cost, reliability, performance, and manufacturability.
• Experience with integrated thermal analysis of spacecraft and rocket.
• Experience with solar panel thermal modeling.
• Experience with electrical PCBA thermal modeling and thermal interface materials (thermal grease, gap pads, etc.).
• Experience with spacecraft primary radiator design and analysis.
• Familiarity with SMC‑S016 standard or equivalent.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, or MATLAB for thermal modeling and automated data analysis.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range: $175,000 – $220,000, plus equity in the company.
• Salary will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, knowledge, skills, education, and experience level.
• Comprehensive benefits package—including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations. The person must therefore be a U.S. person or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.