Spacecraft Thermal Analysis Engineer

Portal Space Systems; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Space Systems in Bothell, WA is seeking a Thermal Analysis Engineer to develop and maintain a whole-spacecraft thermal model and guide vehicle design across subsystems. You will collaborate with senior technical leadership to lead thermal modeling efforts for a space vehicle, track power budgets, and ensure design margins meet mission requirements.

The role requires 2–3 years of spacecraft thermal experience, proficiency with Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT, and a strong ability to

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, configuration control, and maintenance of a whole-spacecraft thermal mathematical model in Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT.
• Define and analyze orbital, mission, operational, survival, hot-case, and cold-case thermal environments.
• Predict component and structural temperatures, identify low-margin hardware, and recommend practical thermal design changes.
• Analyze conductive and radiative interfaces, heaters, insulation, coatings, radiators, and other passive and active thermal-control features.
• Size heaters and quantify thermal-control power demand.
• Track the spacecraft electrical power budget in coordination with power-system and subsystem owners, reconcile assumptions, and identify inconsistencies that affect thermal performance.
• Develop thermal predictions, temperature plateaus, instrumentation recommendations, limits, and success criteria for thermal-vacuum and thermal-balance testing.
• Own post-test thermal model correlation, including comparison of predicted and measured temperatures, documentation of correlation changes, and updated flight predictions and margins.
• Produce clear thermal analysis reports and verification evidence for design reviews, test readiness reviews, qualification or acceptance reviews, and flight readiness reviews.
• Support trade studies, anomaly investigations, late configuration changes, and cross-functional design decisions.
• Maintain traceability among model inputs, vehicle configurations, analysis results, test data, and verification artifacts.

Skills

Thermal modeling

Data analysis

Python

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

Job description

Portal Space Systems in Bothell, WA is seeking a Thermal Analysis Engineer to develop and maintain a whole-spacecraft thermal model and guide vehicle design across subsystems. You will collaborate with senior technical leadership to lead thermal modeling efforts for a space vehicle, track power budgets, and ensure design margins meet mission requirements.

The role requires 2–3 years of spacecraft thermal experience, proficiency with Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT, and a strong ability to