Thermal Test Engineer: TVAC & Chamber Lead (Onsite)

Portal Space Systems; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Portal Space Systems seeks a Thermal Test Engineer to build and operate in-house TVAC capability for spacecraft thermal-cycle and thermal-vacuum testing. This hands-on role requires commissioning, maintaining and optimizing test setups, collaborating with Thermal Analysis and Vehicle Test teams to produce reliable as-run data.

The candidate will design test fixtures, install instrumentation, and lead readiness activities across test campaigns, with occasional travel to external facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 2+ years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and execute component-, subsystem-, and vehicle-level thermal-cycle and TVAC tests.
• Operate the TVAC chamber and serve as test conductor during test campaigns.
• Commission, characterize, maintain, and improve in-house thermal-vacuum test capability.
• Develop chamber operating procedures, standard work, readiness checks, contingency procedures, redlines, and operator training.
• Design and implement thermal test setups, including fixtures, harnessing, heater circuits, thermocouple layouts, feedthroughs, chamber interfaces, and required ground-support equipment.
• Install, route, label, calibrate, check out, and document thermocouples, heaters, instrumentation, and data-acquisition channels.
• Define and verify vacuum, shroud, platen, ramp-rate, temperature, dwell, stabilization, and data-recording parameters in coordination with leads.
• Lead chamber and instrumentation readiness activities and contribute the thermal-test content to integrated test plans, procedures, and TRRs.
• Monitor test execution, assess data quality in real time, troubleshoot facility and instrumentation issues, and coordinate anomaly response.
• Deliver validated as-run data, channel maps, calibration records, test logs, configuration records, deviations, and operational reports.
• Provide complete test data and setup documentation to the Thermal Analysis Engineer for model correlation.
• Coordinate personnel, shift coverage, safety controls, facility interfaces, and minor travel to external test locations.

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline

2+ years of experience

Tools

TVAC chamber

Thermocouples

Heater-control circuits

Ground-support equipment

Data-acquisition systems

Calibration procedures

Job description

Portal Space Systems seeks a Thermal Test Engineer to build and operate in-house TVAC capability for spacecraft thermal-cycle and thermal-vacuum testing. This hands-on role requires commissioning, maintaining and optimizing test setups, collaborating with Thermal Analysis and Vehicle Test teams to produce reliable as-run data.

The candidate will design test fixtures, install instrumentation, and lead readiness activities across test campaigns, with occasional travel to external facilities.