Senior Thermal Engineer – Payload Systems

• Lead thermal architecture development for satellite-based phased array antennas, including active RF front ends, beamforming ICs, and associated power electronics
• Design and optimize thermal solutions for ground-based phased array terminals operating under dynamic environmental conditions (solar loading, ambient extremes, precipitation, and installation variability)
• Develop detailed thermal models using tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent, covering conduction, radiation, and convection regimes as appropriate
• Define and manage thermal interfaces across payload subsystems, including radiators, heat pipes, loop heat pipes, cold plates, and structural elements
• Perform transient and steady-state thermal analyses to validate performance under mission profiles, including peak RF duty cycles, eclipse transitions, and worst‑case environmental conditions
• Collaborate closely with RF, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to ensure thermal constraints are integrated into antenna element layout, T/R module design, and packaging
• Establish thermal requirements, margins, and verification plans aligned with mission reliability and lifetime goals
• Support hardware development, including thermal testing, correlation of models to test data, and anomaly resolution
• Drive thermal design trades balancing performance, mass, power consumption, manufacturability, and cost for both space and ground systems
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to organizational best practices in thermal engineering

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, Physics or related field
• 8+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace, RF systems, or high-performance electronics
• Demonstrated experience with spaceborne thermal design, including vacuum environments, radiation heat transfer, and flight hardware qualification
• Strong understanding of phased array antenna systems, including thermal challenges associated with dense T/R module integration and high-power densities
• Experience with thermal modelling tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Icepak, or equivalent)
• Knowledge of materials, coatings, and thermal interface technologies suitable for space and outdoor ground systems
• Familiarity with environmental standards (e.g., NASA, ESA, MIL-STD) and qualification testing.

Expertise in thermal architecture development for satellite-based phased array antennas, with a strong focus on thermal modeling, analysis, and design optimization under dynamic environmental conditions. Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers in thermal engineering best practices.

• Thermal Engineering Experience
• Thermal Modeling Tools
• Phased Array Antenna Systems
• Spaceborne Thermal Design
• Environmental Standards Knowledge

• Thermal Analysis
• Thermal Design
• Thermal Modeling
• Transient Thermal Analysis
• Steady-State Thermal Analysis
• Thermal Interface Management
• Heat Transfer
• Thermal Testing
• Anomaly Resolution
• Thermal Requirements Definition

• Collaboration
• Mentoring
• Problem Solving

• Aerospace Engineering
• RF Systems
• High-Performance Electronics
• Spaceborne Systems
• Environmental Standards
• NASA
• ESA
• MIL-STD

• Thermal Desktop
• SINDA/FLUINT
• ANSYS Icepak