Senior System Engineer - Thermal

Senior Systems Engineer Thermal - Onsite | Denver, CO - Space

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Systems Engineer – Thermal to join a pioneering space technology organisation developing next-generation lunar mobility and exploration systems. Working within a fast-paced engineering environment, you will play a key role in the development, integration, verification, and validation of thermal control systems for advanced spaceflight hardware.

This position will focus on thermal systems engineering, requirements management, interface definition, testing, supplier oversight, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful delivery of mission‑critical hardware operating in challenging space environments.

• Support the definition, allocation, traceability, and verification of thermal subsystem requirements.
• Develop and maintain interface control documentation (ICDs) between thermal hardware and other vehicle subsystems.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, mechanical design, analysis, and integration teams to ensure requirements compliance and design maturity.
• Contribute to verification and validation planning, including test strategy development and requirements mapping.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute thermal test campaigns at component, subsystem, and vehicle levels.
• Support integration and test activities, including instrumentation planning, test set up definition, execution, and data analysis.
• Generate and maintain key engineering documentation, including requirements, ICDs, test procedures, verification matrices, and technical reports.
• Provide technical oversight and coordination with suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors delivering thermal hardware.
• Participate in design reviews and technical assessments, presenting progress, risks, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify technical risks, integration challenges, and programme issues, driving timely resolution through collaborative engineering processes.

• Degree‑qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in spacecraft, aerospace, defence, or other highly regulated engineering environments.
• Strong background in requirements management, verification, validation, and systems engineering processes.
• Experience defining and managing interfaces across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Hands‑on involvement in thermal testing, environmental qualification, or verification campaigns.
• Knowledge of spacecraft thermal control technologies, including passive and active thermal management solutions.
• Understanding of heat transfer principles and thermal behaviour within extreme operating environments.
• Experience with thermal analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent.
• Exposure to complex vehicle, spacecraft, robotics, or mobility programmes.
• Familiarity with aerospace, defence, or government standards and verification methodologies.
• Experience working within rapid development, prototype, or startup‑style engineering environments.
• Knowledge of thermal instrumentation, test data analysis, and environmental qualification processes.

This is an excellent opportunity for a systems‑focused thermal engineer to contribute to the development of cutting‑edge space technologies, working on complex hardware destined for operation in some of the most demanding environments ever encountered. The role offers significant technical ownership, cross‑functional collaboration, and the opportunity to help shape the future of human exploration beyond Earth.