Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer

Are you an experienced spacecraft thermal engineer?

Do you enjoy solving challenging thermal problems as part of a multidisciplinary team?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

We are seeking an experienced spacecraft thermal engineer to help us develop one-of-a-kind spacecraft, payloads, and thermal control systems. Depending on the size and scope of the effort, you may serve as a senior technical contributor on a large program or lead the thermal engineering effort for a smaller project. You will contribute to Civil Space missions such as Dragonfly, National Security Space missions, and proposals for future work in both domains. You will join a multidisciplinary team of engineers who conceive, develop, analyze, test, launch, and fly spacecraft systems.

As a Senior Aerospace Thermal Engineer you will...

• Lead or contribute to spacecraft thermal control system design, analysis, and testing.
• Develop thermal models and conduct analyses using software such as Thermal Desktop.
• Support thermal testing, including generating test plans and specifications, analyzing test data, and performing model correlation.
• Assist with spacecraft integration, including procedure development, activity coordination, and installation oversight.
• Conduct and communicate thermal design trade studies that balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule, and present thermal engineering results at peer reviews, design reviews, and other major technical reviews.
• Mentor early-career thermal engineers.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• Have 10+ years of experience in spacecraft or instrument thermal engineering, including thermal design, analysis, and testing across multiple phases of the development lifecycle.
• Have a strong foundation in heat transfer theory and proficiency using Thermal Desktop.
• Have proven experience independently leading thermal engineering tasks or small technical teams.
• Are willing and able to travel up to 10% of the time
• Are able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have an MS or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• Have experience with airflow modeling, including forced and natural convection, and advanced Thermal Desktop capabilities such as FloCAD or TD Direct.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.