Senior Thermal Engineer: Spacecraft AI Satellites Thermal Modeling

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Sr. Thermal Engineer (Spacecraft Analysis) for the Starmind program.

You will own the vehicle-level thermal model, define mission environments, and drive heat-rejection trades across radiators, mass, and heater power, ensuring margins and TVAC correlation with flight telemetry as appropriate. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and 5+ years in thermal analysis, with preferred Master’s degree and experience in Thermal

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in thermal analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own the vehicle-level thermal model for Starmind satellites.
• Define environments across entire vehicle lifecycle.
• Drive heat‑rejection architecture trades: radiator area, mass, optical properties, heater/survival power.
• Own the system thermal budget: dissipation allocation, heater loads, min/max temps vs.limits.
• Own integrated TVAC/thermal balance tests from inputs, to pre‑test prediction, instrumentation selection, live test support, through post‑test correlation.
• Define component‑level thermal inputs for qualification, reliability, and acceptance testing.
• Evaluate on‑orbit performance to improve model accuracy, drive key hardware upgrades, and increase operational efficiency
• Automate analysis workflows for re‑running trades as designs and environments change

Skills

Thermal analysis

Python scripting

TVAC testing

Heat transfer modeling

Orbital environments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

Python

Job description

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Sr. Thermal Engineer (Spacecraft Analysis) for the Starmind program.

You will own the vehicle-level thermal model, define mission environments, and drive heat-rejection trades across radiators, mass, and heater power, ensuring margins and TVAC correlation with flight telemetry as appropriate. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and 5+ years in thermal analysis, with preferred Master’s degree and experience in Thermal