Senior Thermal Analyst | Lunar Outpost

EVONA; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Paid time off (3 weeks)

401(k) employer match

Paid holidays (11)

Parental leave

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Lunar Outpost in Golden, CO is seeking a Senior Thermal Analyst to join our Space Operations & Mission Software team onsite. You will perform spacecraft thermal analyses across ground, launch, orbital transfer, and lunar surface environments using Thermal Desktop and related tools.

The role requires 5+ years in thermal engineering, a related degree, and strong modeling skills; collaboration with cross‑functional teams is essential to ensure robust thermal solutions for next‑gen space systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years of thermal engineering/analysis experience.
• Experience with modeling spacecraft thermal performance using Thermal Desktop/Sinda/Fluint.
• Understanding of spacecraft thermal control systems (passive and active).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; good verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis of spacecraft systems and components for LEO‑to‑lunar missions.
• Develop and validate thermal models to support design and mission operations.
• Define thermal control architectures for passive and active management.
• Support environmental testing and correlate test data with models.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet requirements and standards.
• Conduct model correlation and uncertainty/margin assessments.
• Verify thermal requirements and close action items.
• Generate analysis reports, test plans, and design reviews.
• Provide thermal support during integration, launch, and on‑orbit ops.
• Conduct trade studies to optimize thermal performance and reliability.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

Sinda

Fluint

FloCAD

SolidWorks

SpaceClaim

Job description

Senior Thermal Analyst - Onsite | Golden, CO - Space Operations & Mission Software

Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space?

Our client, 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 also driving positive impacts here on Earth.

We are currently seeking a Senior Thermal Analyst to contribute to our client's mission in a dynamic startup environment. As a Thermal Analyst you will be responsible for the component and sub-system level thermal analysis of spacecraft from ground operations, through launch, orbital transfer, transit, landing and Lunar surface environments 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, assisting with 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!

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 Outpost Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Lunar Outpost Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, 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. All employees, including executives and human resources personnel, are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and treat others with dignity and respect in accordance with this policy.