Spacecraft Thermal Manager

Firefly Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Spacecraft Thermal Manager to lead a team of engineers focused on thermal systems across multiple vehicle programs. You will own hiring, performance development, and the team culture while steering design, analysis, testing, and flight qualification activities.

Ideal candidates have deep spacecraft thermal engineering expertise, strong judgment, and the ability to independently manage multidisciplinary efforts from concept to flight.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace Engineering or related field required.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft thermal team across multiple programs and drive major design decisions.
• Define standards and tools for integrated spacecraft thermal models.
• Create a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team environment.
• Address staffing needs to ensure adequate team coverage.
• Communicate thermal priorities in cross-functional leadership discussions.
• Ensure technical rigor and credibility of thermal deliverables.
• Define roles, responsibilities and ownership for each team member.
• Oversee scheduling and removal of roadblocks for thermal tasks.
• Mentor team members and support knowledge sharing.

Skills

Team leadership

Thermal analysis

Python

MATLAB

Mentoring

Communication

Education

BS in Aerospace Engineering or related field

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Thermal Desktop

Python

MATLAB

Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch land and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond As the partner of choice for critical space missions Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24 hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing Headquartered in north Austin Texas Firefly is looking for passionate hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space

SUMMARY

The Firefly Thermal Manager provides leadership for spacecraft thermal systems across multiple vehicle programs They lead a team of engineers and the output that team delivers Managers also own hiring performance development and retention and are responsible for developing and supporting a strong culture within their team This role requires deep expertise in spacecraft thermal engineering strong technical judgment and the ability to independently manage multidisciplinary efforts involving analysis testing and vehicle design

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a team of Thermal Engineers that drive major vehicle design decisions across multiple spacecraft programs
• Define the process standards and tools the team must use when designing developing and maintaining integrated spacecraft thermal models
• Create and maintain a positive inclusive and collaborative team environment where individuals feel supported and aligned
• Actively assess and address the staffing needs of the Thermal team to ensure all operations are appropriately staffed
• Represent the team effectively in cross functional and leadership discussions ensuring Thermal priorities constraints and contributions are clearly communicated and ensuring the teams wins are regularly shared externally
• Understand and be prepared to defend the teams analyses ensuring the technical rigor and credibility of Thermal deliverables
• Establish and communicate clear roles responsibilities and ownership areas for each team member
• Define the expectations for each member of the Thermal team
• Ensure Thermal tasks and deliverables are completed on schedule and help remove roadblocks where needed
• Proactively address performance concerns within the team with fairness transparency and accountability
• Define and uphold standards for Thermal methods documentation review processes and technical quality expected of a Thermal Engineer
• Hold the team accountable for producing clear complete and traceable documentation for all Thermal work
• Support the technical growth of team members through mentorship feedback and by encouraging knowledge sharing
• Own the hiring process for the Spacecraft Thermal Team
• Define thermal analysis strategies supporting conceptual design through flight
• Organize and lead testing including vehicle level thermal vacuum testing
• Serve as the point of contact for the thermal control subsystem during launch operations
• Mentor and technically review work performed by thermal engineers across multiple experience levels

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required BS in Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Engineering Physics or related field
• Approximately 8 years of spacecraft thermal analysis experience
• Must be willing to relocate to the greater Austin area
• Expert knowledge of spacecraft heat transfer and thermal control systems
• Experience mentoring or managing teams of engineers
• Extensive experience with Thermal Desktop and industry standard thermal analysis software
• Demonstrated success leading thermal analyses through design testing and flight
• Experience with instrumentation and testing thermal hardware
• Experience correlating analytical models using environmental and flight data
• Strong programming skills using Python MATLAB or similar languages
• Excellent technical leadership and communication skills
• Proven ability to independently scope execute defend and communicate complex analyses
• Desired MS or PhD
• 3 years of management experience
• Experience supporting NASA DoD or commercial spacecraft programs
• Experience developing new thermal analysis methodologies or software automation
• Familiarity with thermal standards eg GSFC STD 7001B SMC S 016 RCC 319 Spacecraft Payload requirements
• Experience organizing and executing thermal vacuum tests
• Experience with advanced spacecraft thermal control technologies lunar environments plume heating and mission specific thermal phenomena

BENEFITS

• generous health dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles
• parental leave
• educational reimbursement
• short term disability
• flexible PTO options

EEO / DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Firefly Aerospace Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national originethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status

US TRADE RESTRICTIONS

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ITAR you must be a US citizen lawful permanent resident of the US protected individual as defined by 8 USC 1324ba3 or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the US Department of State