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Engineering
Bothell, WA
Full-time
Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer
Send your cover letter and resume to info@portalsystems.space with the email subject: Senior Structural Engineer — Spacecraft Systems
The Thermal Analysis Engineer is responsible for performing thermal modeling and analysis in support of high-temperature thruster hardware and spacecraft bus systems. This role is responsible for predicting temperature distributions, assessing thermal margins, and defining thermal control strategies for high-temperature thruster hardware. It is also responsible for modeling on-orbit thermal environments and supporting spacecraft bus thermal control design. The position works closely with design, fluids, structural, electrical, and systems engineers to develop thermal requirements, predictions, and solutions at both component- and system-levels.
Responsibilities
HEX Thruster Thermal Analysis and Development
- Develop transient, high geometric fidelity thermal models of high-temperature thruster
- Predict transient temperature distributions, radiation in, re-radiation out, and conduction to bus
- Assess thermal margins for thruster and nearby spacecraft hardware
- Identify and design thermal control approaches of the thruster, including radiation reception, re-radiation mitigation, and conduction paths
- Support propulsion test campaigns with pre-test predictions, instrumentation planning, and post-test data reduction and model correlation
Spacecraft Thermal Analysis
- Design and develop spacecraft thermal control systems including passive and active solutions
- Perform thermal modeling, simulation, and analysis using Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT
- Generate and maintain thermal models across multiple mission phases
- Collaborate closely with systems engineering, mechanical design, and electrical engineering teams to ensure cohesive spacecraft development
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 5+ (for Bachelors) or 3+ (for Masters) years of experience in modeling and designing thermal solutions for propulsion hardware, spacecraft, and/or satellites
- Proficiency in industry-standard thermal analysis tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, Ansys Mechanical)
- Strong understanding of orbital thermal environments and space mission thermal challenges
Preferred skills & Experience
- Experience analyzing and developing high-temperature propulsion hardware
- Deep understanding of heat transfer fundamentals (e.g., conduction, convection, radiation, and high-temperature material behavior)
- Proficiency in using first principals hand calcs to create quick predictions and sanity checks for detailed models
- Excellent communication and documentation skills
Send your cover letter and resume to careers @portalsystems.space with the email subject: Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer
careers@portalsystems.space