Thermal Engineer III - Spacecraft Programs
Quantum Space
<p><strong></strong></p> <p>Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.</p> <p><strong>Who We’re Looking For</strong></p> <p>We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to lead the development, implementation, and validation of thermal control solutions for our spacecraft platforms. In this high-impact role, you will own major aspects of spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and verification, working closely with a fast-moving team of engineers and scientists to shape the future of in-space systems.</p> <p>This role is for an experienced technical leader who thrives in a startup-paced environment, can take broad responsibility for thermal system performance, and can mentor junior engineers while also rolling up their sleeves for hands-on integration and testing.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Where You’ll Make an Impact</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead development of high-fidelity spacecraft thermal models for prediction of on-orbit performance</li> <li>Own spacecraft-level thermal architecture, including active and passive thermal control design</li> <li>Review, refine, and correlate as-built thermal models and vendor-supplied thermal documentation</li> <li>Provide expert recommendations to mitigate thermal risks across spacecraft lifecycle phases</li> <li>Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams to ensure spacecraft designs meet thermal requirements</li> <li>Support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test planning, execution, correlation, and troubleshooting</li> <li>Mentor and guide junior thermal engineers; establish best practices and processes for modeling, analysis, and documentation</li> <li>Develop tools, workflows, and standards within the thermal ecosystem to improve efficiency and repeatability of future programs</li> <li>Generate simplified models, thermal environments, and interface documentation for suppliers and customers</li> <li>Review and approve component and assembly designs for thermal flight readiness</li> <li>Produce engineering content and analyses for design reviews, test readiness reviews, and verification reports</li> <li>Support integration, test, and launch-site operations as the subject-matter expert for spacecraft thermal performance</li> </ul> <hr> <p><strong>What It Takes</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field</li> <li>7+ years&nbsp;of relevant thermal engineering experience (spacecraft strongly preferred)</li> <li>Advanced proficiency in&nbsp;Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent thermal analysis tools</li> <li>Experience with spacecraft flight hardware, integration, and thermal vacuum testing</li> <li>Familiarity with NASA, commercial, and industry standards for spacecraft design</li> <li>Demonstrated experience correlating thermal models with test data</li> <li>Ability to lead technical efforts and operate with a high degree of autonomy</li> </ul> <hr> <p></p> <p><strong>Nice-to-Have Experience</strong></p> <ul> <li>Experience with spacecraft operations, thermal limits, and anomaly resolution</li> <li>Knowledge of thermal coatings, adhesives, multilayer insulation (MLI), and related materials</li> <li>Exposure to electrical component thermal modeling and PCB thermal behavior</li> <li>Experience with heat pipe