Thermal Design Engineer

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

8h•$100,000 - $215,000

About The Position

K2 is hiring a Thermal Design Engineer to drive detailed thermal design of spacecraft subsystems through component- and spacecraft-level thermal analysis. The role includes evaluating thermal management strategies and demonstrating them through test campaigns. The engineer will use first-principles and analytical models, with tools such as Thermal Desktop, Ansys IcePak, and Python, and will support thermal testing of spacecraft components, including thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing. The position works across avionics and mechanical engineering teams to develop robust thermal designs, models, tests, and thermal-control hardware for spacecraft. The role also involves learning and applying modeling practices alongside experienced thermal engineers and supporting tasks that address business needs.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience with radiative and conductive thermal modeling of spacecraft systems using Thermal Desktop or similar tools.
At least 3 years of experience selecting, sizing, and designing thermal-control hardware, including heat pipes, heaters, SSM, OSR, thermal straps, thermal paints, tapes, MLI, and TEC.
At least 1 year of experience with thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing, including predictions, setup, instrumentation, and thermal model correlation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with full-vehicle thermal vacuum testing and model correlation.
Experience with integrated thermal analysis of spacecraft and launch vehicles.
Experience with electrical PCBA thermal modeling and thermal interface materials such as thermal grease and gap pads.
Familiarity with the SMC-S016 standard or equivalent.
Experience with spacecraft primary radiator design and analysis.
Knowledge of Atlassian software environments.
Experience with Python, C/C++, or Matlab for thermal modeling and automated data analysis.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain thermal models for spacecraft and subcomponents using Thermal Desktop and Ansys.
Set up and execute thermal testing, from development through qualification.
Work with experienced thermal engineers to learn common modeling practices and support weekly tasks addressing business needs.
Work with other engineering subsystem owners to develop robust thermal designs for avionics boxes and other electromechanical subsystems.
Collaborate with avionics teams to develop thermal models and tests for electronic assemblies.
Work with mechanical teams to develop passive and active spacecraft thermal-control hardware, including radiators, heaters, heat pipes, and surface coatings.