Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (I/II)

Terranorbitalcorporation; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical, dental, vision

401(k) match

Flexible time off

Education reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Terran Orbital in Irvine, CA seeks an experienced Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to support the thermal systems from concept through design reviews and verification. You will build models, lead or mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with system engineers to translate CONOPS into thermal solutions.

This full-time role offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, with opportunities to lead critical thermal design efforts in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering with a Thermal focus.
• 0+ years of experience (Associate Engineer - Level 1) in thermal engineering or similar disciplines related to spacecraft
• 2+ years of experience (Engineer - Level 2) in thermal engineering or similar disciplines related to spacecraft
• Must have experience leading teams and mentoring entry-level engineers.
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop is a must.
• Understanding of radiation and conduction heat transfer in space environments.
• Knowledge of orbital mechanics and thermal design considerations for various orbits.
• Experience with environmental requirements and thermal testing.

Responsibilities

• Reduce thermal risk by identifying constraining elements and recommending mitigations.
• Translate CONOPS into thermal design scenarios with system engineers.
• Develop thermal models for active and passive designs and predict temperature margins.
• Participate in spacecraft build and testing campaigns, including off-hours work.
• Develop thermal verification test plans and correlate results with models.
• Prepare technical documents and presentations for management and stakeholders.
• Support Business Development activities, proposals, and white papers.
• Develop tools for concept trade studies and post-processing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Thermal modeling

Team leadership

CAD software

SolidWorks

Thermal Desktop

MATLAB

Python

Radiation heat transfer

Spacecraft design

DoD clearance

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (Thermal focus)

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SolidWorks

Job description

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to join our growing team. Reporting to the Thermal Engineering Manager, theSpacecraft Thermal Engineerwill be involved in all aspects of a spacecraft's development. They will support spacecraft thermal systems configuration from the concept level through design reviews, design verification, and operations. In addition to predictive and analytical work, the Sr. Engineers may serve in team leadership roles or as subject area experts.

We are open to a level I (Associate Engineer) or level II (Engineer) for this position.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with a multidisciplinary team to reduce thermal risk by identifying the constraining elements of a thermal design and recommend mitigation strategies from the concept level to design, production, and operation.
• Work with spacecraft system engineers to translate spacecraft CONOPS (Concept of Operations) into representative thermal design scenarios.
• Develop thermal models of active and passive thermal designs using a mixture of numerical solutions and hand calculations of spacecraft systems, subsystems, avionics, and mechanisms that predict temperature margins in a variety of thermal space environments/
• Participate in spacecraft build and testing campaigns related to the thermal design aspect of the spacecraft including periods of off-hours or on-call work.
• Develop thermal verification test plans and support test activities, monitor and correlate test results to model predictions.
• Prepare technical documents and PowerPoint presentations to present the results of analysis and tests to Managers, Customers, and/or Stakeholders
• Support Business Development activities, including proposals, white papers, and requests for information.
• Develop tools to support concept trade studies and post-processing analysis.
• Other duties as applicable to thermal engineer may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelors in mechanical or aerospace engineering with a Thermal focus or similar discipline.
• 0+ years of experience (Associate Engineer - Level 1) in thermal engineering or similar disciplines related to spacecraft
• 2+ years of experience (Engineer - Level 2) in thermal engineering or similar disciplines related to spacecraft
• Must have experience leading teams and mentoring entry-level engineers.
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop is a must.
• Must possess an understanding of the basic principles of radiation and conduction heat transfer in conjunction with space environment heating effects and parameters associated with spaceflight applications.
• Deep understanding of orbital mechanics and thermal design considerations with respect to MEO, LEO, GEO, and other orbits.
• Proven knowledge of spacecraft mission design and associated subsystems/architecture as relates to thermal design.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft thermal design management and surface treatments.
• Experience with process development, as pertains to thermal analysis methods, testing methods or model correlation.
• Knowledge of environmental requirements, engineering, thermal vacuum/ambient pressure testing, and hands‑on engineering project experience, including use of data acquisition systems.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, start‑up environment with a strong desire to be a leader/key contributor on a small team.
• Highly responsible team player with a positive attitude and excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Experience with SolidWorks or other CAD software.
• Experience developing detailed thermal and simplified thermal models for spacecraft systems, subsystems, and components.
• Proficiency with computational scripting languages (MATLAB, Python, Mathematica, etc.).
• U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.

Additional Differentiators

• Master of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace engineering with a Thermal focus or similar discipline.
  • Master of Science degree substitutes for two years of experience.
  • Ph.D. degree substitutes for five years of experience.
• Experience with technical leadership responsibilities, such as serving on Risk Reduction teams or as Subject Area Expert.
• Ownership of technical issues with respect to Engineering Review Boards, NCRs and other engineering anomalies with the expectation of bringing it to resolution.
• Experience with build integration and testing of propulsion, thermal, electrical, and structural systems; including, but not limited to, vibration, shock, thermal, vacuum, and radiation testing.
• Experience in a production environment within the space/ aerospace industry.

Salary Ranges

Associate Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (Level III) - $80k to $100k

Spacecraft Thermal Engineer (Level II) - $100k to $130k

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

Salary Range

$80,000—$130,000 USD

Full-time positions only:

Benefits

• 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on‑orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.