Senior Thermal Engineer for Fastwater Staffing and Recruiting

Hikinex; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hikinex is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to own the thermal engineering methodology across our missile systems. You will define thermal architectures, develop high-fidelity models, and use first-principles analysis, simulation, and hardware testing to assure reliability in demanding environments.

You will collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, electrical, propulsion, and systems teams to develop integrated thermal solutions from concept through flight, spanning ground tests, flight

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Applied Physics.
• In-depth heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and high-temperature envs.
• 5+ years in aerospace thermal engineering on rocket, spacecraft, aircraft, or missile programs.
• Experience with electronic unit thermal analysis and control to component junctions.
• Ground testing with thermal instrumentation and data acquisition.
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB, Python, or similar for tool development.
• Experience in formal documentation.
• CAD experience with SolidWorks or Siemens NX.
• Ability to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Thermal design and analysis of unmanned air vehicles at conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design maturities.
• Define thermal system architectures and material selection strategies for vehicles operating in demanding flight environments.
• Thermal analysis of flight vehicles using standard thermal analysis codes and engineering/hand methods.
• Transient thermal analysis for time-varying mission profiles.
• Ground test planning, execution, and analysis in specialized thermal test facilities.
• Flight test planning, execution, and post-flight thermal data analysis.
• Use first principles and MATLAB/Python models to inform design decisions.
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, electrical, and systems engineers on integrated solutions.
• Present thermal status at formal reviews internally and with customers.
• Prepare formal documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports).

Skills

Heat transfer

Fluid dynamics

Aerospace experience

MATLAB/Python

Documentation

Education

BS or higher in AE/ME/Applied Physics

Tools

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

Thermal Desktop/SINDA

Job description

As a Senior Thermal Engineer, you will own the thermal engineering methodology across our missile systems. You will define thermal architectures, develop high-fidelity thermal models, and use first-principles analysis, simulation, and hardware testing to ensure our vehicles perform reliably in some of the most demanding thermal environments imaginable.

You’ll work across aerodynamics, structures, electrical, propulsion, systems, manufacturing, and test engineering to develop integrated thermal solutions from concept through flight. Your work will span transient mission analysis, electronic unit thermal management, specialized ground testing, and flight-test instrumentation and data analysis. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys moving fluidly between analytical models, real hardware, and flight data—and who wants to directly influence vehicle architecture and design decisions from day one.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Thermal design and analysis of unmanned air vehicles at conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design maturities
• Define thermal system architectures and material selection strategies for vehicles operating in demanding flight environments
• Thermal analysis of flight vehicles using standard thermal analysis codes and engineering/hand methods
• Transient thermal analysis for time-varying mission profiles
• Ground test planning, execution, and analysis in specialized thermal test facilities
• Flight test planning, execution, and post-flight thermal data analysis
• Use first principles and MATLAB/Python models to inform design decisions
• Collaborate with aerodynamics, structures, electrical, and systems engineers on integrated solutions
• Present thermal status at formal reviews internally and with customers
• Prepare formal documentation (specifications, test procedures, technical reports)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• BS or higher degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics
• In-depth understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and high-temperature environments
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace thermal engineering on rocket, spacecraft, aircraft, or missile programs
• Experience with electronic unit thermal analysis and control to component junctions
• Ground testing experience with thermal instrumentation and data acquisition
• Strong programming skills in MATLAB, Python, or similar for tool development
• Experience preparing formal documentation
• CAD experience with SolidWorks or Siemens NX
• Ability to obtain and hold a U.S. security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• MS or higher degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Applied Physics with focus on heat transfer and fluid dynamics
• Experience with material ablation response modeling in extreme thermal environments
• Knowledge of material degradation and surface phenomena under demanding conditions
• Experience with specialized thermal ground test facilities
• Flight test experience including instrumentation design and post-flight analysis
• Experience with Thermal Desktop/SINDA
• Experience with manufacturing and assembly of thermal systems
• Active U.S. security clearance