Thermal Engineer

Canopy A&D•Cape Canaveral, FL

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Canopy Aerospace & Defense is hiring an experienced Thermal Engineer specializing in Thermal Protection Systems for a full-time, on-site position. The role is based in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and covers the product lifecycle from concept development and thermal modeling through hardware fabrication, verification testing, qualification, and production. The engineer will serve as a subject matter expert for space and aerospace thermal applications, working hands-on with thermal protection hardware, including active and passive designs and soft goods, and collaborating with engineering teams, production staff, and customers to meet performance, safety, and environmental requirements. The position involves thermal modeling and analysis for spacecraft and aerospace systems, development and support of verification testing, thermal hardware design and fabrication, and technical documentation and presentations. The engineer will work across disciplines to identify and mitigate thermal risks, conduct thermo-mechanical trade studies, support customer and program interfaces, and contribute to business development. The role also includes effective coordination with production and other operational departments, support for continuous improvement and safety practices, and occasional off-hours or on-call work during testing campaigns. The position requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering field and at least two to four or more years of direct aerospace or space thermal engineering experience. Candidates must be able to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments, lift and carry up to 35 pounds, and occasionally travel to customer or test sites. The role follows a 9/80 schedule, generally 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional hours or weekends as business demands require.

Requirements

At least two to four or more years of direct experience in the aerospace and space sectors as a thermal subject matter expert.
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field from an accredited organization.
Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in thermal design management, surface optical treatments, cut-and-sew thermal protection systems, insulation materials such as MLI, and composite and additively manufactured ceramic heat shields for aerospace and space applications.
Proficiency with Thermal Desktop or similar industry tools.
Experience developing detailed and simplified thermal models for spacecraft and rocket systems, subsystems, and components, including active and passive thermal hardware.
Experience developing processes related to thermal analysis methods, testing methods, or model correlation.
Knowledge of environmental requirements, engineering, thermal vacuum and ambient-pressure testing, and use of data acquisition systems.
Understanding of radiation, conduction, and convection heat transfer and space-environment heating effects and parameters relevant to spaceflight.
Deep understanding of orbital mechanics and thermal design considerations for launch environments and MEO, LEO, GEO, and other orbits.
Experience with CAD software such as NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar.
Proficiency in computational scripting languages such as MATLAB, Python, or Mathematica.
Meticulous and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and a strong desire to be a leader or key contributor on a small team.
Responsible, collaborative approach; cheerful outlook; and excellent communication and documentation skills.
Familiarity with applicable industry standards and literature, including SMS-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000, and Space Mission Analysis and Design (SMAD).
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments, with occasional exposure to noise, dust, and temperature variations.
Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds and perform tasks involving standing, walking, bending, and manual assembly.
Visual acuity to read technical drawings, inspect components, and operate precision instruments.
Ability to travel occasionally to customer or test sites, including outdoor or industrial settings, while following company and OSHA safety protocols.
Professional working proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English.
For compliance with U.S. Government export regulations, 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

Technical leadership experience, such as serving on risk-reduction teams or as a subject matter expert.
Ownership of technical issues involving Engineering Review Boards, nonconformance reports, and other engineering anomalies, with responsibility for resolution.
Experience planning, executing, and analyzing thermal and/or mechanical testing for launch or space mission applications.
Proven experience developing full design solutions for thermo-mechanical systems used in satellites, launch vehicles, or missile systems.
Experience in a space or aerospace industry production environment.
Knowledge of ERP systems and machining and bonding materials, including composites.
Knowledge of safety and environmental measures, machining operations, and inspection methods.
Familiarity with ablative materials and design and analysis techniques for extreme environments.
Master's or Ph.D. in engineering, such as aerospace, mechanical, or mechatronics engineering, with a thermal focus or similar.

Responsibilities

Participate in the design, fabrication, and assembly of thermal protection hardware, including cutting and sewing materials for space and aerospace applications.
Perform thermal modeling and analysis of flight subsystems and systems, including related thermal hardware, in collaboration with customer subject matter experts.
Develop active and passive thermal models using numerical methods and hand calculations to predict temperature margins for spacecraft systems, subsystems, avionics, and mechanisms in different space environments.
Develop thermal verification test plans and procedures, support test activities, and monitor and correlate test results with model predictions.
Participate in thermal hardware testing and qualification campaigns, including periods of off-hours or on-call work.
Work with subject matter experts to define requirements, iterate on design concepts, and demonstrate system performance.
Identify thermal design constraints and recommend mitigation strategies from concept through design, production, and operation.
Conduct thermo-mechanical design trade studies balancing performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule.
Document analyses and designs, including inputs, methods, and results, for design and test reviews and hardware implementation.
Prepare technical documents and presentations of analysis and test results for managers, customers, and stakeholders.
Interface with program, engineering, and customer teams on thermal design, performance, and test issues, and support other teams and disciplines as needed.
Develop tools for concept trade studies and post-processing analysis.
Support business development activities, including proposals, white papers, and requests for information.
Communicate with production, machining, maintenance, and quality departments to support timely delivery.
Contribute to improving safety, quality, on-time delivery, and efficiency KPIs.
Collaborate with engineering and contracts personnel on hiring, performance reviews, and promotions.
Participate in recruitment efforts and support 5-S, health, safety, and environmental guidelines.
Perform cross-functional operations and maintain a clean work area.