Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer
Astro Digital
This position is hybrid remote, to be filled either at our San Jose, California or Littleton, Colorado facility.
About Astro Digital
Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions for several business applications, including earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Astro Digital is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado with offices also in San Jose, California and Sydney, Australia with roughly 85 employees and infrastructure around the globe.
Position Summary
The Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer is responsible for satellite thermal analysis and thermal related support of all classes of Astro Digital bus.
The ideal candidate is a meticulous, self-motivated thermal engineer with deep experience in thermal analysis of spacecraft both at the system and unit level. He or she would be comfortable performing the following:
- Building both spacecraft system level and unit level models as required using Thermal Desktop, including orbital conops, spacecraft attitude, and duty cycle inputs
- Working with other disciplines to gather requirements and inputs necessary to complete analysis
- Presenting results in an efficient manner, identifying if requirements are met or possible solutions if not
- Providing thermal design recommendations (e.g., thermal interface material, heater placement, temperature sensor placement, coatings, etc.)
- Planning and supporting thermal vacuum and thermal cycling testing
Minimum Qualifications:
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field
- 5+ years of experience as a thermal engineer or thermal analyst in the aerospace field using Thermal Desktop
- Proficiency building Thermal Desktop models for analysis of spacecraft and subsystems
- Proficiency with performing thermal hand calcs/back of the envelop assessments
- Experience with thermal data post-processing (e.g., temperature data and heater power data) in Excel or Python
- Experience planning and executing thermal vacuum and thermal cycling testing
- Self-motivated work ethic with a desire to learn new aspects of thermal analysis and engineering
- Good written, verbal, and virtual communication skills
- Willingness to travel several times/year to San Jose, CA
Preferred Qualifications:
- MS in engineering directly related to thermal analysis or thermal engineering
- Proficiency with SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop User Logic
- Familiarity with CAD modeling and drawing creation via OnShape or SolidWorks
- Proficiency analyzing electronic components at the board level using Thermal Desktop
- Experience meshing complex geometry using TD Direct or other meshing software for use in Thermal Desktop
- Possesses a solid understanding of thermal environments and effects
- Experience with modeling and implementing advanced thermal control technologies (heat pipes, PCM, TECs, etc.)
- Familiarity with standards such as NASA-STD-7000 (GEVS)
- Familiarity with SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare requirements
This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 22 CFR §120.15 and 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.
