Senior Thermal Analyst: Lead Orbital Thermal Modeling

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

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Vision and dental insurance

Life insurance

Parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a senior thermal analysis engineer to lead modeling and simulation for spacecraft thermal design. You will partner with design engineers to ensure manufacturability while building prototypes and transitioning to production.

Your work will inform the hardware team and guide test campaigns across ground, launch, and on-orbit phases. The role emphasizes end-to-end modeling, data acquisition, and response to test data.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with thermal test in high-rate manufacturing environments.
• 3+ years of sizing and testing fluid systems including pumps, valves, accumulators, heat exchangers, cold plates.
• 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 and troubleshooting.
• 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.
• Design active and passive thermal control systems using basic heat transfer to size lines, pumps, accumulators, cold plates etc.
• Lead steady-state and transient thermal analyses across the full mission envelope and off-nominal cases.
• Lead trade studies on thermal control architecture.
• Define and defend thermal margins at design reviews; present findings to leadership and customers.
• Drive correlation of thermal models against TVAC and test data; investigate root causes when needed.
• Set modeling standards and mentor junior analysts.
• Design and develop heater and cooling systems including control architecture.
• Set up and maintain state-of-the-art test stands and instrumentation.
• Develop data acquisition systems for thermal control systems.
• Develop tests for pump fluid loop and components; write control scripts for tests.

Skills

Thermal testing

Fluid systems

Data acquisition

TVAC testing

NX/AutoCAD

Tools

NX

AutoCAD

Thermal Desktop

Job description

K2 Space is seeking a senior thermal analysis engineer to lead modeling and simulation for spacecraft thermal design. You will partner with design engineers to ensure manufacturability while building prototypes and transitioning to production.

Your work will inform the hardware team and guide test campaigns across ground, launch, and on-orbit phases. The role emphasizes end-to-end modeling, data acquisition, and response to test data.