Senior Thermal Engineer - Contractor

Senior Thermal Design Engineer Contractor

Responsible for delivering spacecraft‑level thermal design and analysis solutions for Low Earth Orbit, Geostationary Earth Orbit and interplanetary missions.

The contract involves working closely with the Thermal Team on fast‑paced programmes to deliver practical, robust Thermal Control Subsystem (TCS) solutions on schedule and within budget. This demands a dedicated, experienced, innovative and pragmatic approach.

Responsible for spacecraft thermal control subsystem for the lifetime of a project including testing and in‑orbit activities as required:

• Thermal subsystem management including:
  • Design and analysis of the spacecraft TCS
  • Perform / manage TCS implementation and test activities
  • Delivery of an overall thermal solution that fits in with company and project requirements

Thermal subsystem management and thermal analysis and design. Role to include, but not limited to:

• Thermal technical leadership
• Requirements capture
• Spacecraft level thermal analysis and design
• System / subsystem level interfacing and trade‑offs
• Cost, risk, schedule and performance trades
• Implementation of the design including appropriate hardware selection and management as required.
• Test planning, test and verification of the design
• Understanding and improving related company standards and work practices
• Perform / manage unit level analysis and design or piece part testing as required
• Management of subcontractors as required
• Interfacing to internal and external customers
• Management of one or more project work packages
• Peer review of technical output of the team

• Degree in Engineering or Physics or appropriate vocational qualifications

Mandatory experience:

• Relevant and proven experience in appropriate thermal design and analysis in the space industry
• Space mission and system level experience, including interfacing to other disciplines such as Mechanics, AOCS, Propulsion, AIT and Operations
• Experience of the full life cycle of thermal design on multiple space missions

Desirable experience

• Experience using Thermica, Sinda‑G and ESATAN analysis tools advantageous
• Experience with active and passive TCS hardware
• Planning and support of thermal vacuum tests
• Experience of converting between the thermal tools is desirable but not essential

• A system level understanding of thermal subsystem design
• Good thermal design and analysis skills
• Excellent verbal communications and presentations skills
• Excellent writing skills with a proven ability to generate high quality technical documentation
• Excellent organisational, management and team working skills
• Good knowledge of MS Office Excel, Word and Power Point
• Proven ability to deliver solutions under pressure and to tight timescales

• Role based in Guildford; a mix of office and remote working is possible

• Duration 6 – 12 months
• This opportunity is available through our Outsourcing Partner; contact details can be provided.