Spacecraft Thermal Engineer - Design, Analysis & Validation

Astrion; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion invites applications for a Thermal Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. You will design, analyze, integrate, test, and manage the thermal subsystem for spacecraft, payloads, and technology demonstrations, ensuring survival across operational temperature ranges.

Collaborating with systems engineers and other specialists, you will optimize thermal interfaces, develop models, and conduct tests such as thermal balance and vacuum testing to validate designs.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace engineering, or similar engineering technical area.
• Detailed understanding of thermodynamics and heat transfer as applied to space environments.
• Working knowledge and experience with Thermal Desktop or similar thermal analysis toolsets.
• Experience with Solidworks, AutoCAD, Windchill and translation of models for thermal analyses.
• Experience with thermal verification and validation including thermal cycling, thermal balance, and thermal vacuum testing.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for Thermal design, analyses, verification and validation of the thermal management subsystem for spacecraft, payloads, instruments, and technology demonstrations.
• Define the work products, finishes, coatings, conductive paths and overall thermal design based on the project concept of operations and requirements.
• Working with other subsystem engineers (mechanical, electrical, communications, propulsion) to optimize design form, fit, function, and performance of the thermal control subsystem.
• Generate and run the thermal models to simulate the heat transfer and thermal management.
• Translate requirements, component limits, power profiles, and concept of operations to define thermal cases relevant for mission analyses.
• Define, write test procedures, and perform thermal balance and thermal vacuum test to provide model validation and verify the system design.
• Identify and communicate design trades
• Develop the schedule include tasks, procurements, lead times, test flow and durations for the thermal subsystems
• Responsible for periodic and milestone review thermal products and reports
• Create, define, control and verify thermal interfaces for subsystems, payloads, and technologies
• Interface with Government, contractors and mission partner staff for thermal interfaces
• Some travel may be required to support mission and project partners

Skills

Thermal engineering

Thermodynamics

Thermal analysis

Modeling & simulation

Communication

Time management

Independent work

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Windchill

Confluence/Jira

Job description

Astrion invites applications for a Thermal Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. You will design, analyze, integrate, test, and manage the thermal subsystem for spacecraft, payloads, and technology demonstrations, ensuring survival across operational temperature ranges.

Collaborating with systems engineers and other specialists, you will optimize thermal interfaces, develop models, and conduct tests such as thermal balance and vacuum testing to validate designs.