Principal Thermal Design Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Principal Thermal Design Engineer (Aerospace): Leading the detailed thermal design and analysis of spacecraft subsystems with an accent on radiative and conductive modeling, thermal management strategies, and test campaigns. Focus on developing passive and active thermal control hardware, automating data analysis, and ensuring mission success for high-power satellite platforms.

Location: Must be based in Los Angeles, CA

Salary: $175,000 - $295,000

Company

hirify.global is a Series C startup building high-power satellite platforms for missions ranging from LEO to deep space.

What you will do

• Collaborate with Mechanical teams to develop passive and active thermal control hardware including radiators, heaters, and heat pipes.
• Partner with Avionics teams to develop thermal models and tests for electronic assemblies.
• Define and analyze nominal and contingency cases for in-orbit operations in coordination with GNC teams.
• Develop and maintain thermal models for spacecraft and sub-components using Thermal Desktop and Ansys.
• Set up and execute thermal testing ranging from development to qualification.
• Automate data analysis to support architectural trades and interface with vendors.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience with satellite thermal design and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with radiative and conductive thermal modeling using Thermal Desktop.
• Experience with thermal control hardware selection and design.
• Experience with thermal cycling and TVAC testing, including model correlation.
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined by ITAR regulations.

Nice to have

• Experience with full-vehicle thermal vacuum testing.
• Familiarity with SMC-S016 standard.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, or Matlab for automation.
• Experience with solar panel or PCBA thermal modeling.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity in the company.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and parental leave.
• Life insurance and other perks.
• Fast-paced, innovative environment focused on building next-generation spacecraft.