Senior Thermal Analyst

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a thermal modeling and simulation lead to own the analysis predicting spacecraft temperatures across all mission phases. You will collaborate with Thermal Design Engineers, set modeling standards, and mentor junior analysts, with a focus on end-to-end analysis rather than hardware sizing.

Join a fast-paced space startup and help drive production transition, test stands, and data acquisition systems that inform design decisions and testing programs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of thermal test experience in a high-rate manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years sizing and testing fluid systems including pumps, valves, accumulators, heat exchangers, cold plates.
• Demonstrated experience with data acquisition for thermal and power related applications.
• Experience with test plan development and execution.
• Strong experience with thermal and TVAC testing including setup, instrumentation, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NX or AutoCAD is preferred to design test fixtures.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end orbital thermal models via Thermal Desktop for the spacecraft bus from initial architecture through flight.
• Work with lead engineers to design active and passive thermal control systems using basic heat transfer and mechanical equations to size lines, pumps, accumulators, cold plates, etc.
• Lead steady-state and transient thermal analyses across the full worst-case hot/cold mission envelope, including degraded and off-nominal cases.
• Lead trade studies on thermal control architecture.
• Define and defend thermal margins at PDR/CDR-level design reviews; present findings directly to program leadership and customers.
• Drive correlation of thermal models against TVAC and thermal balance test data; lead root-cause investigation when predictions and test disagree.
• Set modeling standards and best practices for the analysis team; mentor junior/associate thermal analysts.
• Design and development of heater and cooling systems including control architecture.
• Setup, commission, and maintain state-of-the-art test stands and instrumentation.
• Develop data acquisition systems for active and passive thermal control systems.
• Perform tests on novel pump fluid loop including feed systems, power electronics, and hardware-in-the-loop.
• Develop testing and control scripts to conduct safe and reliable test campaigns of pump fluid loop and individual components.
• Own analysis documentation and verification closure packages for customer and internal reviews.

Skills

Thermal testing

Data acquisition

Test planning

Troubleshooting

NX/AutoCAD familiarity

Tools

NX

AutoCAD

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 – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we’re mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built 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 lead thermal modeling and simulation efforts for K2's spacecraft, owning the analysis that predicts spacecraft and component temperatures across all mission phases including ground processing, launch, and on-orbit operations. Working closely with Thermal Design Engineers, you will set modeling standards, review junior analysts' work, and be the primary interface between the analysis team and the Thermal Design Engineers who own hardware. This is an analysis and simulation-focused role: you won't be sizing hardware or running TVAC campaigns yourself, but your models will directly inform the engineers who do.

You will partner with design engineers early in the process to ensure manufacturability while building the first prototype, design the build flow, and finalize the process for transition to production.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end orbital thermal models via Thermal Desktop for the spacecraft bus from initial architecture through flight
• Work with lead engineers to design active and passive thermal control systems using basic heat transfer and mechanical equations to size lines, pumps, accumulators, cold plates etc.
• Lead steady-state and transient thermal analyses across the full worst-case hot/cold mission envelope, including degraded and off-nominal cases
• Lead trade studies on thermal control architecture
• Define and defend thermal margins at PDR/CDR-level design reviews; present findings directly to program leadership and customers
• Drive correlation of thermal models against TVAC and thermal balance test data; lead root-cause investigation when predictions and test disagree
• Set modeling standards and best practices for the analysis team; mentor junior/associate thermal analysts
• Design and development of heater and cooling systems including control architecture
• Setup, commission, and maintain state-of-the‑art test stands and instrumentation
• Develop data acquisition systems for active and passive thermal control systems
• Perform tests on novel pump fluid loop including feed systems, power electronics, and hardware-in-the-loop
• Develop testing and control scripts to conduct safe and reliable test campaigns of pump fluid loop and individual components
• Own analysis documentation and verification closure packages for customer and internal reviews

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with thermal test experience in a high-rate manufacturing environment
• 3+ years of experience with sizing and testing fluid systems including pumps, valves, accumulators, heat exchanger, cold plates etc.
• Demonstrated experience with data acquisition for thermal and power related applications
• Experience with test plan development and execution
• Strong experience with thermal and TVAC testing including setup, instrumentation, and troubleshooting
• Demonstrated knowledge of NX or AutoCAD is preferred to design test fixtures

Nice to Have

• Experience with Thermal Desktop and basic statistical data analysis
• Experience with signal conditioning to define optimal acquisition rate and understand when signal-to-noise ratio is not acceptable
• Experience with pumps testing
• Experience with avionics testingExperience with testing refrigeration systems

Compensation And Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $230,000 + equity in the company
• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and 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

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R.

• 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

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.