Senior Thermal Engineer--Aircraft and Missiles

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative defense technology company is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to lead thermal design and analysis for aircraft and missiles. This role involves utilizing first principles and advanced modeling techniques to ensure robust thermal architecture that withstands rigorous environments. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in thermal systems design, a strong background in heat transfer and fluid dynamics, and a passion for supporting national defense. Join a talented team dedicated to transforming military capabilities with cutting-edge technology and make a significant impact in the defense sector.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience designing thermal systems for integrated hardware products.
• In-depth understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics required.
• Experience in the aerospace industry is essential.

Responsibilities

• Own the thermal design and analysis of drones, aircraft, or missiles.
• Develop internal tools to improve analysis effectiveness and efficiency.
• Present thermal status at formal reviews with customers.

Skills

Heat Transfer

Fluid Dynamics

Thermal Systems Design

Thermal Management Systems

Root-Cause Analysis

Data Acquisition

Thermal Testing

Education

MS or higher degree in Engineering or Applied Physics

Tools

MATLAB

Python

STAR-CCM+

ANSYS

Icepak

Flotherm

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

Job description

Senior Thermal Engineer--Aircraft and Missiles

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for a Sr. Thermal Analysis Engineer to work in Costa Mesa, Ca, with experience working on aircraft and or missiles.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Own the thermal design and analysis of a drone, aircraft, or missile.
• Use first principles as a basis for every decision and discern the right level of analysis to apply. Execute hand calculations, spreadsheet, and MATLAB/Python first-order models to inform path forward before jumping into detailed design.
• Define good thermal architecture to withstand rugged environments and demanding flight envelopes. Define hot, cold, and any other edge cases that need to be analyzed based on industry standards and intended use.
• Work with engineers in other disciplines to document power dissipations under different operating modes.
• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to thermal considerations.
• Own the thermal FEA/CFD models and predict system performance. Define red/yellow design limits for test and operation.
• Define and execute prototype builds and tests to verify thermal designs (do CAD, select sensors and DAQ equipment, post-process data, summarize results, etc.).
• Present thermal status at formal reviews internally and with customers. Provide clear understanding of timelines and technical status.
• Develop internal tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of analysis.
• Support failure reviews and root-cause analysis with test data and thermal analysis.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently pursuing or have obtained a MS or higher degree in engineering or applied physics with focus on heat transfer and fluid dynamics
• In-depth understanding of heat transfer and fluid dynamics
• Experience in the aerospace industry and an aircraft, rocket, or missile program
• 5+ years of experience designing thermal systems for integrated hardware products
• Practical experience designing passive and active thermal management systems
• Thermal testing experience –sensor selection, data acquisition, data post-processing
• Thermal FEA experience –STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, Icepak, or Flotherm
• CAD experience with SolidWorks or Siemens NX
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies
• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing code in higher-level languages like Python or MATLAB for applications like lumped thermal capacitance steady state and transient analysis
• Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

US Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Anduril is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Anduril team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law.