Thermal Systems Engineer V

citjpl; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks a Level V Thermal Systems Engineer to lead and oversee thermal control systems for flight projects. You will work within the Payload Thermal and Cryogenic Systems Group (353P) and collaborate across disciplines to ensure reliable, safe and high-performance hardware from design through test.

The role requires deep experience in cryogenics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and spaceflight hardware, with proven leadership of multi-disciplinary

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge in cryogenics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics and thermal systems design.
• Experience in controls theory and systems engineering for spaceflight thermal subsystems.
• Significant experience with spacecraft thermal bus design and development.
• Thermal hardware delivery experience in flight projects.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating multi-project groups.
• Experience producing system documentation (requirements, test plans, interfaces).

Responsibilities

• Oversee specification, implementation and V&V of a flight/ payload thermal control system.
• Monitor technical design, status and issues across the development lifecycle (A–D).
• Plan and direct financial, labor resources, schedules and risk management.
• Manage flight system thermal risks and provide technical leadership.
• Lead development of thermal interfaces and coordinate stakeholder interactions.
• Present work in management and project reviews as required.
• Represent the thermal system in system engineering team meetings and design trades.
• Ensure interoperability and safety of thermal interactions across systems.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Cryogenics

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Controls theory

Systems engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in similar discipline

PhD in similar discipline

Job description

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That's our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers-literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission-your opportunity-is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you're driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you're ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

This opportunity is part of the Mechanical and Control Systems Division (3500) , which engages in research, technology development, and the creation of advanced mechanical, robotics, guidance & control, thermal, propulsion, and electronic packaging systems. We develop hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem and system-level integration and test.

As a Level V Thermal Systems Engineer , you will be working for the Thermal, Propulsion, and Materials Engineering Section (353) , which provides leadership and unique world-class expertise in a wide range of technologies and technical discipline areas, including chemical and electric propulsion, thermal, materials, contamination control, analytical chemistry, and multiphase flow. This section is responsible for design, analysis, fabrication, testing, integration, and operations of thermal and propulsion flight systems for JPL missions. This section is also responsible for providing materials and process engineering, contamination control engineering, materials testing, and analytical chemistry support to technology and flight programs. You will be a member of the Payload Thermal and Cryogenic Systems Group (353P) and will report to the Group Supervisor.

We are seeking an adaptable, high-energy professional who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced setting and is comfortable navigating ambiguity. The ideal candidate possesses a risk-tolerant mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities to innovate, and excels in an evolving environment where decisiveness and agility are key to our collective success.

Responsibilities

• Be the JPL systems engineer responsible for overseeing specification, implementation, V&V of a flight system or payload thermal control system, reporting programmatically to the project payload and flight system managers and administratively to the Thermal, Propulsion & Materials Engineering Section Manager (3530)
• Be cognizant of the technical design, status and issues of a flight system or payload thermal control system throughout the development lifecycle (Phases A through D) assuring that thermal products and processes meet JPL institutional standards and document non-compliances
• Responsible authority to plan, direct and control financial and labor resources, schedule, make risk management decisions and performance commitments in fulfilling the project's objectives
• Management of flight system or payload thermal risks
• Provide thermal technical leadership as an individual or member of a management team
• Oversee development of flight system or payload thermal interfaces, coordinating between stakeholders to assure operable, reliable and safe interactions between systems
• Present work in management and project reviews as required
• Represent the flight system or payload thermal system at system engineering team meetings, leading and contributing to design trades at the project system level

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering (thermal or cryogenics focus) or related technical discipline with typically a minimum of 12 years of related experience; Master's degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 10 years of experience; or PhD degree in similar discipline with a minimum of 8 years of experience.
• Broad knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: cryogenics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermal systems design, controls theory, systems engineering
• Significant experience in spaceflight thermal subsystem/instrument engineering, and in particular experience with spacecraft thermal bus design and development
• Thermal hardware delivery experience
• Experience leading teams and coordinating working groups on projects in instrument, subsystem or bus development, test and or operations at the systems level
• Experience with development and delivery of system documentation such as requirements documents, test plans, interface agreements and design description documents
• Experience working on external procurements
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple issues, tasks and priorities concurrently
• Experience in requirements and interface development, systems formulation, verification, and flight operations
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