Thermal Design Engineer

Red Canyon Engineering & Software • Louisville, KY

1d

About The Position

The Thermal Design Engineer is responsible for thermal system design and analysis for complex spacecraft and payloads, from component level through subsystem and full-system levels. The role includes designing thermal solutions for electronic components and ensuring thermal closure while meeting cost and schedule objectives. The engineer develops preliminary concepts for early design activities, supports design verification and validation, and contributes to transition to rate production. The position collaborates with avionics, mechanical, structural, program management, and AI&T teams, with a strong focus on internal customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant engineering or computation field plus 10–12 years of professional experience in thermal engineering positions; alternatively, an MS plus 8–10 years or a PhD plus 5–7 years.
• At least 5 years of professional experience designing high-reliability products in the space, aerospace, or another industry.
• Experience with thermal engineering design tools and methods, including Ansys Thermal Desktop, AutoCAD, and DSS SolidWorks.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to perform mechanical engineering design tasks using SolidWorks in addition to primary thermal engineering duties.
• Understanding of GD&T tools and methods.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal system design and analysis for spacecraft and payloads at component, subsystem, and space-vehicle levels.
• Design thermal integration for electronic components, including processors, power supplies, cameras, and optical assemblies, at subsystem, spacecraft-bus, and space-vehicle levels.
• Ensure thermal designs close properly and identify innovative technical approaches to meet thermal, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Perform FEM-based thermal model analysis using Ansys Thermal Desktop.
• Develop preliminary concepts for early design activities and support design verification and validation through transition to rate production.
• Collaborate across avionics, mechanical, structural, program management, and AI&T teams, maintaining a strong internal customer focus.

Benefits

• Company contribution toward medical benefit packages.
• 401(k) contribution upon eligibility.
• Profit share bonus.
• Performance bonuses.

What This Job Offers

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