Senior Staff Thermal Analyst

CesiumAstro•El Segundo, CA

About The Position

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Staff Thermal Analyst to apply advanced structural engineering principles and thermal analysis methods in support of complex products and platforms. The role addresses highly complex structural engineering challenges, evaluates thermal performance and thermal-structural interactions, advances analytical methodologies, and serves as a primary technical resource across multiple programs. Its work supports structural integrity, reliability, manufacturability, quality, and mission success. The position works cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations teams throughout the product development lifecycle. It leads complex analyses and verification activities, supports technical decisions and investigations, guides and mentors engineers, and advances structural analysis practices and standards.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, or a related engineering field with 12–15 years of related experience; or a master's degree with 8–12 years; or a PhD with 5–8 years in structural analysis, stress analysis, finite element analysis, aerospace structures, or a related discipline.
Applied knowledge of thermal analysis principles, heat transfer, thermal modeling, temperature distributions, and thermal-structural interactions.
In-depth knowledge of structural mechanics, stress analysis, mechanics of materials, finite element analysis, and advanced structural verification methodologies.
Extensive experience performing static, dynamic, vibration, fatigue, fracture, buckling, nonlinear, and thermal stress analyses across multiple engineering programs.
Comprehensive understanding of material behavior, fracture mechanics, failure theories, margin-of-safety calculations, GD&T, manufacturing processes, and structural qualification requirements.
Ability to develop innovative solutions to highly complex structural engineering challenges and advance technical capabilities across engineering efforts.
Sound judgment in guiding technical decisions, mentoring engineers, and advancing structural analysis methodologies.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Experience with finite element analysis, structural analysis, CAD, and engineering software such as ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran, HyperMesh, Creo, or equivalent applications.
Experience with engineering documentation, PLM, ERP, and collaboration tools such as Windchill, SAP, Jira, or equivalent applications.
Must meet U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Responsibilities

Develop structural analysis methodologies, verification strategies, and engineering solutions across multiple products and engineering programs.
Evaluate load paths, stress distributions, fatigue life, fracture behavior, buckling stability, vibration response, thermal stresses, and structural integrity.
Lead complex engineering calculations, finite element analyses, nonlinear analyses, margin-of-safety assessments, and design trade studies.
Perform thermal analyses of heat transfer, temperature distributions, thermal loads, and thermal-structural interactions.
Lead structural verification, qualification, validation, and testing activities.
Evaluate engineering data, analytical models, test results, inspection findings, and structural performance, and develop solutions to improve reliability and product performance.
Guide root cause investigations, engineering changes, corrective actions, and structural improvements.
Correlate thermal models with test data and evaluate temperature-related performance to support verification and design improvements.
Serve as a primary technical resource for structural and stress analysis across engineering and manufacturing initiatives.
Provide structural engineering guidance during design reviews, engineering investigations, manufacturing reviews, supplier evaluations, and technical problem resolution.
Mentor engineers and support consistent structural analysis practices and continuous improvement.
Advance structural analysis methodologies, verification practices, engineering standards, and analytical techniques across multiple programs.
Evaluate analysis methods, finite element models, verification processes, and emerging analytical technologies for improvement opportunities.
Lead initiatives to improve structural integrity, reliability, manufacturability, quality, analytical accuracy, and engineering effectiveness.