Senior Thermal Analyst

lunaroutpost; Golden (CO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

3 weeks PTO

401(k) match

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Lunar Outpost in Golden, CO, seeks a Senior Thermal Analyst to lead spacecraft thermal analysis from ground operations through lunar surface environments, using Thermal Desktop and related tools.

You will develop thermal models, define control architectures, support testing, and document results while collaborating with engineering teams to meet mission requirements and ensure reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years relevant Thermal Engineering/Analysis experience.
• Solid understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
• Demonstrated thermal analysis skills using Thermal Desktop/Sinda/Fluint.
• Understanding of spacecraft thermal control systems, passive and active.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis of spacecraft systems and components using Thermal Desktop for missions from LEO to deep-space.
• Develop and validate thermal models to support design, integration, and mission operations.
• Define thermal control system architectures for passive and active management.
• Support environmental testing and correlate test data with models.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet thermal requirements and standards.
• Conduct model correlation, uncertainty assessment, and verification of requirements.
• Generate technical documentation including reports, test plans and design reviews.
• Provide thermal support during spacecraft integration, launch and on-orbit operations.
• Conduct trade studies to optimize thermal performance and reliability.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Heat transfer fundamentals

Analytical problem solving

Engineering calculations

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Self-motivated

U.S. Person eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

MS in Thermal-Fluids or related discipline

Tools

Thermal Desktop

Sinda

Fluint

FloCAD

SolidWorks

SpaceClaim

Job description

Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, an industry leader in space robotics and planetary vehicles, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a permanent presence in space, while alsodrivingpositive impacts here on Earth.We arecurrentlyseekinga Senior Thermal Analystto contribute to our mission in a dynamic startup environment.AsaThermal Analystyou willbe responsible forthe component and sub-system level thermal analysis of spacecraft from ground operations, through launch, orbital transfer, transit,landingandLunarsurfaceenvironments using Thermal Desktop. Typical tasks include capturing system inputs, constructing and vetting analysis models, performing system level trade studies, generating temperature and heat transfer predictions,assistingwith ambient pressure and vacuum thermal testing and documenting results.

Take the #NextLeap with Lunar Outpost and work on the Pegasus LTV, which will carry NASA astronauts farther than they've ever been before on the lunar surface!

Working Conditions / Schedule: This position is required to be onsite Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Where applicable, employees may work remotely on Wednesdays from 9:0 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be required based on business needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform thermal analysis of spacecraft systems and components using Thermal Desktop for missions spanning LEO, cis-lunar space, and future deep-space architectures, including multi-phase transit, orbital, and surface operations
• Develop and validate thermal models to support design, integration, and mission operations
• Define thermal control system architectures for passive and active thermal management
• Support environmental testing (e.g., thermal vacuum, thermal balance) and correlate test data with analytical models
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure compliance with customer and program thermal requirements and standards
• Model correlation and uncertainty/margin assessment
• Thermal requirements verification and closure
• Generate technical documentation including analysis reports, test plans, and design reviews
• Provide thermal support during spacecraft integration, launch, and on-orbit operations
• Conduct trade studies to optimize thermal performance and system reliability

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• 5+ years relevant Thermal Engineering/Analysis experience
• Solid understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics
• Demonstrated thermal analysis skills
• Demonstrated experience with modeling spacecraft thermal performance using Thermal Desktop/Sinda/Fluint
• Understanding of spacecraft thermal control systems, including passive and active thermal management techniques
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret technical data and perform engineering calculations
• Self-motivated, focused, and driven to meet critical deadlines
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• U.S. Person

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or qualifying degree with Thermal-Fluids focus
• 8+ years of relevant Thermal Engineering/Analysis experience
• Demonstrated experience with modeling spacecraft thermal-fluid performance using FloCAD or other Thermal-Fluid analysis software
• Demonstrated testing experience using thermal testing hardware (e.g., heaters, lamps, temperature sensors, data acquisition units, optical property measurement devices)
• Experience with thermal-fluid design and/or analysis (e.g., heat pipes, pumped fluid loop systems)
• Proficiency with Solid Works and Space Claim for geometry preparation and thermal model development

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation level and base salary are competitively structured and thoughtfully determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, education, and the scope of the role.

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with 70% of premiums covered by the employer
• Paid time off: Three (3) weeks per year of vacation
• Retirement plan: Up to 4% employer match on 401(k) contributions
• Paid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidays
• Parental leave
• Educational reimbursement opportunities to support company objectives, continued learning, and career development
  

Lunar OutpostInc.is an equal opportunity employer.Lunar Outpost Inc. doesnot discriminateon the basis ofrace,color,religion, sex (including pregnancy,sexual orientation,and gender identity),national origin, ethnicity,age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Allemployees,including executives andhuman resources personnel, are expectedtoconduct themselves with professionalism andtreat others withdignityandrespect in accordance with this policy.