Sr. Thermal Design Engineer

Team & Role: You will be joining the SAR Antenna Unit (SAU) team as a Senior Thermal Design & Analysis Engineer. You will own the complete thermal architecture of the SAR Antenna Unit, ensuring stability, performance, and reliability from concept definition through on-orbit validation.

Responsibilities

● Develop detailed orbital thermal models (steady-state & transient). ● Perform high-fidelity thermal simulations for gradients, distortions, and thermo-elastic effects. ● Conduct coupled thermal-structural analysis for dimensional stability. ● Define and implement thermal control strategies (MLI, coatings, heaters, isolators).

● Establish temperature, distortion, and alignment budgets aligned with RF performance. ● Support deployable antenna design with thermal expansion evaluations. ● Develop and validate Thermal Mathematical Models (TMM) and correlate with TVAC test data. ● Support environmental testing (thermal balance, TVAC, vibration-thermal interaction).

● Collaborate with RF, structural, AIT, and Bus teams for compatibility. ● Generate and present reports for PDR, CDR, TRR, and QR reviews. ● Drive root-cause analysis for thermal anomalies and corrective iterations. ● Mentor junior engineers in thermal modelling and best practices.

Requirements

● 3–6 years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or aerospace thermal design & analysis. ● Strong expertise in orbital thermal analysis and spacecraft environments. ● Proficiency in Simcenter 3D (thermal & coupled thermal-structural analysis). ● Deep understanding of thermo-elastic distortion and dimensional stability.

● Strong knowledge of passive & active thermal control techniques. ● Experience correlating thermal models with thermal balance and TVAC test data. ● Solid understanding of aerospace materials and thermal properties (CTE, conductivity, emissivity). ● Ability to translate RF performance constraints into thermal/mechanical design requirements ( efficient thermal dissipation from IC and RF PCBs, EMI/EMC of the enclosure, etc) ● Strong technical documentation and design review participation.

Good-to-have: ● Experience with radar or high-frequency RF payloads. ● Familiarity with deployable structures. ● Working knowledge of structural FEA workflows in Simcenter 3D (NX Nastran). ● Experience designing thermal aspects of test support equipment. ● Exposure to spacecraft Bus thermal interface design. ● Experience with heater control electronics and sensor placement strategies.

● Background in thermal-optical property characterization. ● Prior flight hardware qualification experience. ● Experience in fast-paced private aerospace or new-space environments. What We Look For: ● Ownership mindset and ability to lead complex thermal design efforts. ● Curiosity and eagerness to solve multidisciplinary challenges.

● Adaptability to fast-paced start-up environments. ● Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. ● Passion for aerospace and enthusiasm to contribute to real-world satellite missions.

Benefits

● Competitive compensation aligned with market standards. ● Experience rapid growth in a start-up culture. ● Flexible working hours. ● Opportunity to work closely with the Founding Team. ● Mentorship from advisors with decades of aerospace experience.