Thermal Engineer Staff (Level 4)

Lockheed Martin; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 118,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible work arrangements and 4x10s

401(k) match

Paid time off and holidays

Parental Leave

Education Assistance

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Space is seeking a senior thermal engineer to lead end-to-end thermal analyses across missile components and integrated systems. You will own modeling strategy and contribute to design trades, requirements, and verification plans.

You will develop hand calculations, work with TVAC and environmental testing, and collaborate with structures, materials, propulsion, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver producible thermal solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience in thermal/thermofluids analysis (thermophysics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, etc.).
• Experience using industry-standard thermal analysis tools such as NX/Simcenter, Thermal Desktop, SINDA, ANSYS.
• Knowledge or experience developing and managing technical requirements.
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills grounded in mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, thus US Citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

• Owning end-to-end thermal modeling strategy using tools such as NX, Simcenter, SINDA/Fluent, and Thermal Desktop.
• Developing preliminary hand calculations and reduced-order models to inform early design trades before advancing to detailed simulations.
• Accounting for all relevant heating environments — conduction, convection, radiation (solar, Earth IR, albedo), aerodynamic heating, free molecular heating, and transient mission effects.
• Translating program requirements into actionable thermal design criteria and verification strategies.
• Leading technical reviews, presenting analysis results to customers, program leadership, and design teams.
• Driving thermal support for Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) and environmental testing, including instrumentation strategy and data correlation.
• Partnering across structures, materials, propulsion, manufacturing, and quality to develop producible, cost-effective thermal solutions.
• Coordinating TPS design, material selection, and component-level thermal integration.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Mechanical engineering fundamentals

Analytical problem-solving

Secret clearance eligibility

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering or related discipline

Tools

NX/Simcenter

Thermal Desktop

SINDA

ANSYS

Job description

Standard Job Description

Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more - we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.

Standard Job Description

Space is a critical domain, connecting our technologies, our security and our humanity. While others view space as a destination, we see it as a realm of possibilities, where we can do more - we can innovate, invest, inspire and integrate our capabilities to transform the future.

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We're creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security vision. We're erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We're advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we're reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity. Our engineers, scientists, and innovators are solving some of the world's most complex technical challenges while building the spacecraft and technologies that protect nations, advance discovery, and expand what's possible beyond Earth.

At Lockheed Martin, your work has real impact. Every day our teams design and deliver satellites and spacecraft that:

• Provide early warning for severe weather and global threats
• Connect troops and critical missions across the globe
• Enable GPS navigation for billions of people
• Support exploration and scientific discovery beyond our planet

But going to space is just the beginning. What matters most is what happens once we get there. We're developing the next generation of intelligent satellites - spacecraft that operate like "smartphones in orbit," with software that can be updated in flight to adapt to changing mission needs. These innovations are redefining what's possible in space. If you're driven to solve hard problems, push technical boundaries, and contribute to missions that truly matter, we want you on our team.

As a senior member of the thermal engineering team, you will lead and execute high-fidelity thermal analyses across missile components, subsystems, and fully integrated systems - including ground support equipment - throughout the entire lifecycle.

Your Impact Will Include

• Owning end-to-end thermal modeling strategy using tools such as NX, Simcenter, SINDA/Fluent, and Thermal Desktop
• Developing preliminary hand calculations and reduced-order models to inform early design trades before advancing to detailed simulations
• Accounting for all relevant heating environments — conduction, convection, radiation (solar, Earth IR, albedo), aerodynamic heating, free molecular heating, and transient mission effects
• Translating program requirements into actionable thermal design criteria and verification strategies
• Leading technical reviews, presenting analysis results to customers, program leadership, and design teams
• Driving thermal support for Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) and environmental testing, including instrumentation strategy and data correlation
• Partnering across structures, materials, propulsion, manufacturing, and quality to develop producible, cost-effective thermal solutions
• Coordinating TPS design, material selection, and component-level thermal integration

The information below reflects the standard job description for this position:

Researches, plans, designs and develops mechanical products and systems such as instruments, controls, robots, engines, machines and mechanical, thermal hydraulic or heat transfer systems for production, transmission, measurement, and use of energy. Applies research to the planning, design, development, and testing of mechanical and/or electromechanical systems, instruments, controls, engines, and/or machines.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline
• Experience in thermal/thermofluids analysis (thermophysics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, etc.)
• Experience using industry-standard thermal analysis tools such as NX/Simcenter, Thermal Desktop, SINDA, ANSYS
• Knowledge or experience developing and managing technical requirements
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills grounded in mechanical engineering fundamentals
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, thus US Citizenship is required

Desired Skills

• Experience modeling complex missile or aerospace thermal environments in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) across full mission profiles
• Expertise in integrating transient and steady-state data from cross-functional teams into high-fidelity models
• Experience coordinating with test teams to define instrumentation plans, conditioning approaches, and correlation strategies
• Proficiency performing 1D models and first-principles calculations (bulk temperatures, backside temperatures, ablation, erosion, etc.)
• Experience influencing material selection and TPS design from a thermal performance perspective
• Strong executive-level communication skills with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders

#SpaceFlightScience

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $118000.00 - $219100.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow - both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.

• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.