Spacecraft Thermal Engineer II

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

About The Position

Firefly Thermal Engineers apply advanced simulation and heat transfer expertise to solve complex spacecraft thermal challenges from concept development through flight operations. Engineers in this role independently own subsystem thermal analyses, develop validated thermal models, and influence engineering decisions through high-quality analytical work. Successful candidates are expected to drive thermal analyses from problem definition through documentation while collaborating across multiple engineering disciplines.

Requirements

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field
Approximately 3–8 years of spacecraft or aerospace thermal analysis experience
Strong experience with Thermal Desktop and related thermal analysis software
Strong understanding of spacecraft thermal control systems
Experience correlating analytical models with test data
Working knowledge of Python and MATLAB
Excellent technical communication skills
Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex engineering analyses

Nice To Haves

M.S. degree
Experience with ANSYS SpaceClaim, NX, or Simcenter
Experience developing thermal test plans and coordinating thermal vacuum tests
Familiarity with NASA spacecraft thermal standards
Experience supporting spacecraft through integration and environmental testing

Responsibilities

Independently develop and maintain subsystem and vehicle-level spacecraft thermal models.
Own thermal analyses from model setup through documentation with minimal oversight.
Execute thermal trade studies supporting design, integration, testing, and mission operations.
Develop thermal control solutions including MLI, radiator sizing, heater strategies, coatings, and other passive and active thermal control technologies.
Coordinate thermal environments with internal engineering teams and external customers.
Organize and support testing, including vehicle-level thermal vacuum testing.
Support the thermal control subsystem on console during launch operations.
Correlate analytical models using thermal vacuum and environmental test data.
Break large analytical efforts into actionable tasks while managing priorities across multiple programs.
Document analysis results for internal and customer design reviews.
Mentor entry-level engineers by reviewing models, analyses, and reports.
Identify model sensitivities, uncertainties, and technical risks while recommending mitigation strategies.
Contribute to process improvements, automation, and modeling best practices.