Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer — Hybrid, Equity Options

Observable Space; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Flexible work environment

Unlimited PTO

Health & Wellness

Cutting-edge tools

Mission-driven culture

Inclusive team

Job summary

Observable Space is seeking a hands-on Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to design and develop thermal control systems for telescope platforms and spacecraft. You’ll work with optical, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to ensure thermal stability and performance for ground-based and space-based deployments.

You will develop and validate thermal models, perform STOP analyses, and lead environmental testing while contributing to the full product lifecycle from concept to production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace or high-performance systems.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer fundamentals (conduction, convection, radiation).
• Experience with thermal analysis tools (Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, or similar).
• Experience developing and validating thermal models for complex systems.
• Effective communicator and collaborator.
• Demonstrated passion for aerospace or observational technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize thermal control systems for spacecraft and telescope platforms (e.g., radiators, heaters, insulation, thermal straps, and enclosures).
• Develop thermal models and perform detailed thermal analysis (steady-state and transient) across operational environments.
• Perform STOP analysis (Structural, Thermal, Optical Performance) to verify system-level thermal stability and its impact on optical performance.
• Conduct FEA simulations for thermal, structural, and environmental conditions.
• Collaborate with optics, mechanical, and electrical teams to ensure proper thermal integration with imaging, tracking, and sensing subsystems.
• Define thermal requirements, margins, and verification strategies for system and subsystem performance.
• Support environmental testing, including thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycling, and validation of thermal models.
• Support the full product lifecycle, from concept design and prototyping to testing and production.
• Participate in and contribute to design reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.) and internal documentation.
• Provide engineering support during fabrication, integration, QC, and system validation.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Heat transfer

Thermal modeling

Scripting (Python/MATLAB)

Communication

Collaboration

Education

BSc Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

ANSYS

Nastran

Job description

Observable Space is seeking a hands-on Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to design and develop thermal control systems for telescope platforms and spacecraft. You’ll work with optical, electrical, mechanical, and software teams to ensure thermal stability and performance for ground-based and space-based deployments.

You will develop and validate thermal models, perform STOP analyses, and lead environmental testing while contributing to the full product lifecycle from concept to production.