Spacecraft Thermal Engineer III

Firefly Aerospace • Cedar Park, TX

2d

About The Position

Firefly Aerospace seeks a spacecraft thermal engineer to provide technical leadership for thermal analysis across multiple vehicle programs. The role leads complex thermal engineering efforts, develops analytical approaches and modeling strategies, mentors engineers, and influences program decisions throughout vehicle development. It requires deep spacecraft thermal engineering expertise, strong technical judgment, and the ability to independently lead multidisciplinary analysis, testing, and vehicle design efforts.

The position leads thermal analyses and trade studies, owns integrated spacecraft thermal models, develops analytical methods and workflows, defines thermal analysis strategies from conceptual design through flight, and organizes testing including vehicle-level thermal vacuum testing. The engineer leads model validation using test and flight data, supports launch operations as the thermal control subsystem point of contact, represents Thermal Engineering in customer and program reviews, and provides technical leadership during anomaly investigations. The role also contributes to engineering standards, team development, hiring, and technical interviews.

Applicants must meet U.S. Government space technology export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations. Firefly Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Approximately 8–15+ years of spacecraft thermal analysis experience.
• Expert knowledge of spacecraft heat transfer and thermal control systems.
• Extensive experience with Thermal Desktop and industry-standard thermal analysis software.
• Demonstrated success leading thermal analyses through design, testing, and flight.
• Experience with instrumentation and testing thermal hardware.
• Experience correlating analytical models using environmental and flight data.
• Strong programming skills using Python, MATLAB, or similar languages.
• Excellent technical leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to independently scope, execute, defend, and communicate complex analyses.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. or Ph.D.
• Experience supporting NASA, DoD, or commercial spacecraft programs.
• Experience developing new thermal analysis methodologies or software automation.
• Familiarity with thermal standards such as GSFC-STD-7001B, SMC-S-016, RCC-319, and Spacecraft Payload requirements.
• Experience organizing and executing thermal vacuum tests.
• Experience with advanced spacecraft thermal control technologies, lunar environments, plume heating, and mission-specific thermal phenomena.

Responsibilities

• Lead thermal analyses that drive major vehicle design decisions across multiple spacecraft programs.
• Own the architecture, validation, and long-term maintenance of integrated spacecraft thermal models.
• Develop analytical methods, workflows, and automation to improve team capability and efficiency.
• Lead thermal trade studies involving mission environments, propulsion effects, lunar surface interactions, cryogenics, and advanced thermal control technologies.
• Define thermal analysis strategies from conceptual design through flight.
• Organize and lead testing, including vehicle-level thermal vacuum testing.
• Serve as the thermal control subsystem point of contact during launch operations.
• Lead model validation using thermal vacuum, qualification, acceptance, and flight data.
• Mentor thermal engineers and technically review their work across experience levels.
• Represent Thermal Engineering during customer reviews and major program design reviews.
• Provide technical leadership during anomaly investigations and rapid-response engineering efforts.
• Influence organizational best practices, analytical standards, and long-term capability development.
• Support hiring, technical interviews, and development of the thermal engineering team.

Benefits

• Generous health, dental, and vision plans with low plan deductibles.
• Parental leave.
• Relocation benefits.
• Educational reimbursement.
• Short-term disability.
• Flexible PTO options.

What This Job Offers

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