Thermal Engineer II

Quantum Space; Rockville (MD); Presencial; USD 90.000 - 140.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Medical, dental, vision

Generous leave

FSA

401(k) matching

Equity sharing

Descripción de la vacante

Quantum Space in Rockville, MD seeks a Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to lead the development, validation, and implementation of thermal control solutions for our high-mobility spacecraft platforms. You will work closely with a fast-moving team to shape in-space systems and ensure thermal performance from design through flight readiness.

You will model, test, and correlate thermal performance, participate in TVAC testing, and help drive tools and standards across the thermal ecosystem.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of relevant thermal engineering experience (spacecraft strongly preferred).
• Advanced proficiency in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent thermal analysis tools.
• Experience with spacecraft flight hardware, integration, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Familiarity with NASA, commercial, and industry standards for spacecraft design.
• Demonstrated experience correlating thermal models with test data.

Responsabilidades

• Develop high-fidelity spacecraft component thermal models for prediction of on-orbit performance.
• Review, refine, and correlate as-built thermal models and vendor-supplied thermal documentation.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams to meet thermal requirements.
• Support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test planning, execution, correlation, and troubleshooting.
• Develop tools, workflows, and standards within the thermal ecosystem to improve efficiency.
• Generate simplified models, environments, and interface documentation for suppliers and customers.
• Review and approve component and assembly designs for thermal flight readiness.
• Produce engineering content and analyses for design reviews, test readiness reviews, and verification reports.
• Support integration, test, and launch-site operations for spacecraft thermal performance.

Conocimientos

Thermal analysis

Flight hardware

NASA standards

Model validation

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Herramientas

Thermal Desktop

SINDA/FLUINT

Descripción del empleo

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to contribute to the development, implementation, and validation of thermal control solutions for our spacecraft platforms. In this high-impact role, you will assist in major aspects of spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and verification, working closely with a fast-moving team of engineers and scientists to shape the future of in-space systems.

This role is for an engineer who thrives in a startup-paced environment, can take broad responsibility for thermal system performance, while also rolling up their sleeves for hands‑on integration and testing.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

• Develop high-fidelity spacecraft component thermal models for prediction of on-orbit performance
• Review, refine, and correlate as-built thermal models and vendor-supplied thermal documentation
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams to ensure spacecraft designs meet thermal requirements
• Support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test planning, execution, correlation, and troubleshooting
• Develop tools, workflows, and standards within the thermal ecosystem to improve efficiency and repeatability of future programs
• Generate simplified models, thermal environments, and interface documentation for suppliers and customers
• Review and approve component and assembly designs for thermal flight readiness
• Produce engineering content and analyses for design reviews, test readiness reviews, and verification reports
• Support integration, test, and launch-site operations for spacecraft thermal performance

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of relevant thermal engineering experience (spacecraft strongly preferred)
• Advanced proficiency in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent thermal analysis tools
• Experience with spacecraft flight hardware, integration, and thermal vacuum testing
• Familiarity with NASA, commercial, and industry standards for spacecraft design
• Demonstrated experience correlating thermal models with test data

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience with spacecraft operations, thermal limits, and anomaly resolution
• Knowledge of thermal coatings, adhesives, multilayer insulation (MLI), and related materials
• Exposure to electrical component thermal modeling and PCB thermal behavior
• Experience with heat pipes, loop heat pipes, radiators, and advanced thermal hardware
• Understanding of orbital dynamics and thermal environments across varying mission profiles
• Prior experience in a fast-paced startup or NewSpace environment

What You’ll Get

• Ownership – Take responsibility for spacecraft thermal system performance, from design and analysis through integration, testing, and flight readiness
• Innovation – Support transformative aerospace and defense programs enabling next-generation space mobility and operations
• Impact – Help ensure the thermal performance, reliability, and mission success of next-generation spacecraft
• Growth – Join a collaborative engineering team working across advanced spacecraft technologies in a fast-paced, innovative environment
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

This position requires working on-site at our office in Rockville, MD.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.