Senior Thermal Fluids Engineer – Space Propulsion Systems

Karman+; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Equity Incentive Plan

Medical plans (Gold coverage)

Life insurance ($50,000)

Disability insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

FAMLI

Job summary

Karman+ in Colorado is seeking a Senior Thermal Fluids Engineer to lead design and testing of propellant delivery and thermal management systems for deep space propulsion. You’ll drive trades, sizing, and interfaces critical to mission success, collaborating across teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on problem solving with FEA/CFD, propulsion modeling, and CAD, plus strong communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is a high-impact aerospace position with broad autonomy.

Qualifications

• Aspiring aerospace engineer with a focus on fluid and thermal systems.
• Experience in electric in-space propulsion is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of thruster design and space-rated thermal management.
• Proficiency with thermal analysis tools and CAD.

Responsibilities

• Drive the design and testing of propellant delivery systems.
• Oversee thermal system design, ensuring proper design and control strategies to maintain subsystem performance in space.
• Execute build vs buy trades for system components, and manage vendor relationships.
• Size propellant tanks, and drive thermal design for a unique mission profile.
• Collaborate with other teams to support solar electric propulsion systems.
• Manage range safety compliance and propellant loading plans.
• Drive trades for advanced vehicle capabilities, like refueling architectures and multimode propellant systems.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Space propulsion

Thermal management

Heat transfer

Propellant systems

CAD

FEA

CFD

Propulsion modeling software

Communication

Tools

FEA

CFD

CAD

Propulsion modeling software

Job description

Karman+ in Colorado is seeking a Senior Thermal Fluids Engineer to lead design and testing of propellant delivery and thermal management systems for deep space propulsion. You’ll drive trades, sizing, and interfaces critical to mission success, collaborating across teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on problem solving with FEA/CFD, propulsion modeling, and CAD, plus strong communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is a high-impact aerospace position with broad autonomy.