Aerospace, Space Technology, Manufacturing, Deep Tech

Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer

El Segundo, CAOnsiteFull TimeSenior$140,333–$179,314 /yrPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

Thermal Desktop
SINDA/FLUINT
MATLAB
SMC-S-016
passive thermal control
active thermal control
data processing
model processing
vehicle health
performance

Nice to have

reentry systems
ownership

Role summary

Varda is seeking a Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer to join their vehicle engineering team. This role involves developing and maintaining thermal system architectures and models for spacecraft, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring vehicle health and performance. Responsibilities include creating and maintaining tools for model and flight data processing, providing thermal control, and anchoring models to TVac testing. The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience in thermal control systems and detailed thermal analysis using tools like Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT, with proficiency in MATLAB for data processing. A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering is required, with a Master's degree preferred.

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About this Role

As the Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer, you will serve as a key member of the vehicle engineering team to develop and maintain thermal system architectures and collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, production, software, and mission ops to ensure vehicle health and performance through all mission phases.

Your work directly influences design and performance of Varda’s spacecraft and will often flex between quick evaluations and high-fidelity analysis. You will also contribute to thermal modeling and data processing workflows to build more efficient and robust systems as we scale in vehicle cadence. A proactive problem-solving approach and commitment to meeting tight schedules are critical to supporting Varda's goals of expanding in-space manufacturing. We are in the mission of developing engineering systems for life-changing products in microgravity for patients on Earth and looking for skilled and driven teammates to help us get there.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles

Create and maintain tools/systems for model and flight data processing

Ensure spacecraft remains within operating and survival limits during all mission phases via passive and active thermal control

Collaborate with other spacecraft disciplines to drive hardware, software, and/or con-ops improvements

Plan, execute, and anchor models to Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing

Provide guidance to vehicle level testing, such as thermal bakeout, Vehicle-In-The-Loop (VITL), propulsion hot fire, etc.

Work independently with minimal technical oversight

Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical peer reviewer

Basic Qualifications

B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 3–6+ years)

3+ years of experience and knowledge in developing passive and active thermal control systems

Proficiency in detailed thermal analysis in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT

Experience anchoring thermal models to test and/or flight data

Experience in planning and executing Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVac) testing

Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation

Familiarity with thermal margins and qualification test requirements in SMC-S-016 

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication

Preferred Skills and Experience

Master's degree in a related engineering discipline and 3+ years of related professional experience

Experience of an entire spacecraft vehicle lifecycle, from initial concept, design development, production, integration, and test to mission operations

Experience in thermal design and analysis of reentry systems

A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast-paced environment

Pay Range

Salary Range: Senior: $140,333- $179,314/per year

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

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