Thermal Analysis Engineer

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Positive work-life balance

Employer paid health insurance and a 4

11 paid holidays annually

Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Job summary

Mclaurin Aerospace seeks a Thermal Analysis Engineer to join the JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. You will develop and maintain thermal models, conduct steady-state and transient analyses, and evaluate performance across mission phases to ensure compliance with NASA requirements.

You will collaborate with design teams, support verification activities, and contribute to system-level integration across engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 2–5 years of related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Experience with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, ANSYS Fluent, or similar industry-standard software.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles and spacecraft thermal environments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple technical disciplines.
• Ability to assess and validate thermal designs for technical accuracy and compliance with requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain simplified to high-fidelity thermal models using Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, and related tools.
• Perform steady-state and transient thermal analyses for spacecraft components, subsystems, and integrated vehicle configurations.
• Evaluate thermal performance across mission phases, including ascent, cruise, lunar orbit, surface operations, and off-nominal scenarios.
• Perform thermal sensitivity studies in support of vendor vehicle designs, GFE designs or requirement development.
• Support thermal verification and validation activities, including test planning, thermal vacuum testing, data analysis, and model correlation.
• Collaborate with design teams to optimize PTCS and ATCS architectures.
• Provide guidance on thermal design considerations and ensure compliance with NASA requirements and best practices.
• Participate in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and anomaly investigations.
• Review NASA and vendor thermal designs for technical accuracy and requirement compliance.
• Document analysis results, prepare technical reports, and present findings to internal stakeholders and NASA customers.
• Support integration with systems engineering, mission operations, and hardware development teams throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Heat transfer

Communication

Leadership

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Thermal Desktop

COMSOL

ANSYS Fluent

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Thermal Analysis Engineerto join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Develop and maintain simplified to high‑fidelity thermal models using Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, and related tools.
• Perform steady‑state and transient thermal analyses for spacecraft components, subsystems, and integrated vehicle configurations.
• Evaluate thermal performance across mission phases, including ascent, cruise, lunar orbit, surface operations, and off‑nominal scenarios.
• Perform thermal sensitivity studies in support of vendor vehicle designs, GFE designs or requirement development.
• Support thermal verification and validation activities, including test planning, thermal vacuum testing, data analysis, and model correlation.
• Collaborate with design teams to optimize PTCS and ATCS architectures.
• Provide guidance on thermal design considerations and ensure compliance with NASA requirements and best practices.
• Participate in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and anomaly investigations.
• Review NASA and vendor thermal designs for technical accuracy and requirement compliance.
• Document analysis results, prepare technical reports, and present findings to internal stakeholders and NASA customers.
• Support integration with systems engineering, mission operations, and hardware development teams throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Qualifications:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in Engineering and a minimum of 2- 5 years of experience in the field or in a related area.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Experience with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, ANSYS Fluent, or similar industry‑standard software.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles and spacecraft thermal environments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple technical disciplines.
• Ability to assess and validate thermal designs for technical accuracy and compliance with requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Typically 5-10 years of relevant engineering experience.
• BS degree in engineering and at least five years of direct engineering experience.
• Familiarity with NASA JSC organizations, processes, and procedures.
• Experience with PTCS or ATCS hardware design, analysis, testing, certification, or operations.
• Proficiency with Thermal Desktop is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience performing thermal analysis and design for aerospace systems.
• Familiarity with the Engineering Life Cycle and requirements verification processes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate support from a wide range of technical disciplines.
• Demonstrate strong leadership by fostering collaboration, driving clear technical direction, and contributing to a culture of accountability and high‑quality engineering.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long‑term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.