Lead Thermal Engineer

SCEYE INC • Moriarty, NM

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Sceye is seeking a Lead Thermal Engineer with proven, hands-on experience supporting the design, analysis, and validation of thermal systems for high-altitude aerospace platforms, including HAPS, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), drones, or closely related flight vehicles. This role is responsible for ensuring reliable thermal performance of avionics, structures, propulsion-adjacent systems, and payloads operating in extreme stratospheric environments.

The Lead Thermal Engineer will serve as a trusted technical advisor and will be relied upon for sound judgment and guidance on thermal management strategies that directly influence system design, risk mitigation, and mission readiness. This role requires someone who has successfully applied thermal engineering expertise in prior industry roles and is comfortable owning thermal decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field
• 5–10 years of demonstrated, hands-on experience in thermal analysis and thermal system design for aerospace or high-altitude flight systems
• Proven practical experience supporting thermal management for drones, HAPS, UAS, or closely related aerospace platforms
• Demonstrated ability to independently own thermal analyses and provide clear, experience-based recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-functional teams
• Strong, applied understanding of heat transfer principles (conduction, convection, radiation), particularly in low-density, high-altitude environments
• Experience developing, validating, and correlating thermal models using industry-standard tools (e.g., ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, or equivalent)
• Experience supporting hardware through design, test, integration, and operational readiness, not solely academic or theoretical work
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, R&D-driven aerospace environment
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Direct experience with high-altitude platforms, stratospheric vehicles, or long-duration unmanned flight systems
• Hands-on experience with thermal vacuum testing, environmental qualification, or flight validation campaigns
• Knowledge of lightweight structures, composites, and advanced aerospace materials
• Experience supporting mission-critical or flight-certified hardware

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and optimize active and passive thermal control systems for high-altitude aerospace platforms
• Perform steady-state and transient thermal analyses using analytical and numerical methods
• Develop, validate, and maintain thermal models predicting system behavior across stratospheric and mission-specific operating conditions
• Support selection, qualification, and trade studies for materials, insulation, coatings, radiators, and thermal interfaces
• Define thermal requirements, margins, and operating limits for avionics, batteries, payloads, and structural components
• Support environmental testing, including thermal vacuum, altitude simulation, and temperature cycling tests
• Analyze test data, correlate results with thermal models, and drive design updates as needed
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, systems, and manufacturing teams to resolve real-world thermal challenges
• Document designs, analyses, test results, and compliance with applicable engineering standards
• Support design reviews, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives

Benefits

• Chef-Prepared Lunches
• Snacks & Refreshments
• Wellness Perks
• Dog-Friendly Environment
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, with over 82% of premiums covered—and 100% for everything else.
• 401(k) with Match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior