Thermal Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Must be based in or able to relocate to Culver City, CA

Company

hirify.global is a stealth startup building a space-based data transport network using free-space laser links to provide multi-Tbps capacity for enterprise and sovereign data.

What you will do

• Lead thermal design and analysis for optical terminals, benches, and flight payloads.
• Ensure thermal stability to maintain sub-micron alignment across optical paths.
• Manage heat loads for high-power amplifiers, drivers, and modem electronics.
• Develop thermal interfaces and budgets in collaboration with systems engineering.
• Conduct hands-on thermal testing and model correlation in the lab.
• Define the roadmap from demonstrator thermal control to orbit-survivable hardware.

Requirements

• Degree in mechanical, aerospace, or physics.
• Proficiency in thermal tools such as Thermal Desktop, ANSYS, or COMSOL.
• Experience with structural-thermal-optical (STOP) reasoning or precision hardware thermal management.
• Modeling skills using Python or MATLAB.
• Must be able to work onsite in Culver City, CA.

Nice to have

• Experience with spacecraft or payload thermal environments (vacuum, radiative, thermal-vacuum test).
• Background in optical-system or precision-instrument thermal control.
• Experience with high-power laser or fiber-amplifier cooling.
• Experience with deployed or field-hardware thermal systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive compensation including salary and meaningful equity.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous paid time off (PTO).
• Relocation support provided.
• Real equipment and lab budget for hands-on development.