Thermal Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

ArcTern Ventures; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Muon Space in San Jose, CA is seeking a Thermal Engineering intern for May–September, full-time and on-site. You will join the Thermal Engineering team and take ownership of thermal design, testing, and analysis across spacecraft hardware, contributing to next-generation satellites.

As a startup, Muon offers direct mentorship, hands-on responsibility, and a collaborative environment where your work shapes programs and adds immediate value to missions.

Qualifications

• Experience with thermal test and analysis.
• Test planning and execution, slide decks and Google Sheets.
• Coursework or relevant experience in Thermodynamics, Numerical Analysis, Finite Elements, Software Engineering, or Project Engineering.
• Portfolio of example thermal design, analysis, integration, and test work.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of or contribute to the design, analysis, documentation, and test of spacecraft thermal control subsystem and its components
• Propose and iterate on improvements for new and existing thermal hardware
• Write and monitor thermal tests to characterize performance
• Conduct analysis to support development and testing

Skills

Thermal testing

Test planning

Google Sheets

Numerical analysis

Finite elements

Thermal design portfolio

Education

Thermodynamics coursework

Numerical Analysis coursework

Finite Elements coursework

Software Engineering coursework

Project Engineering coursework

Tools

Thermal Desktop

Job description

About the role

Summer internships will range between the months of May and September depending on university schedules. Internship is full-time and on-site in San Jose, CA.

The Thermal Engineering team at Muon is responsible for thermal performance and safety of flight hardware across all satellite platforms, including Muon-designed avionics hardware and instruments. Interns are expected to take ownership over thermal efforts ranging from hardware design, test, and analysis. The impact you will have as a Thermal Engineering intern will be immediately reflected in the next generation of Muon satellites.

Muon is a small and fast growing startup which offers interns the experience to get direct mentorship and have real impact on our programs. As an intern, you'll collaborate with a dynamic team in a startup environment and have the chance to learn from some of the most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the industry. We're committed to offering an experience where your decisions and contributions play a pivotal role in driving Muon's success.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of or contribute to the design, analysis, documentation, and test of spacecraft thermal control subsystem and its components
• Propose and iterate on improvements for new and existing thermal hardware
• Write and monitor thermal tests to characterize performance
• Conduct analysis to support development and testing

Qualifications

• Experience with thermal test and analysis
• Test planning and execution, creation of slide decks, presentations, Google Sheets
• Coursework or relevant experience in several of the following: Thermodynamics, Numerical Analysis, Finite Elements, Software Engineering, Project Engineering
• Portfolio of example thermal design, analysis, integration, test work

Nice-to-have Skills

• Previous internship or co-op experience
• Previous experience on technical project teams
• Experience with Thermal Desktop
• Understanding of physics and orbital mechanics
• Experience with thermal testing: development testing, component & system-level

Pay range

Bachelor's $40/hour

Master's $45/hour

PhD $50/hour

About Muon Space

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.

Taking Care of Our Team

At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, full-time employees receive equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.

Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states:
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.