Senior Thermal Engineer - Payload Systems

We are seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to lead the thermal design and analysis of advanced phased array antenna systems for both satellite payloads and ground-based user terminals. This role is central to ensuring reliable performance of high-power, high-frequency antenna systems operating across harsh orbital and terrestrial environments, including Q/V-band and beyond.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in thermal management of RF electronics, active phased arrays, and space-qualified hardware, along with the ability to drive cross-disciplinary design integration across mechanical, RF, digital, and power subsystems. This role offers the opportunity to shape next-generation satellite communication systems and high-performance ground terminals, enabling robust, high-capacity connectivity in increasingly demanding RF environments.

Key

Responsibilities: Lead thermal architecture development for satellite-based phased array antennas, including active RF front ends, beamforming ICs, and associated power electronics. Design and optimize thermal solutions for ground-based phased array terminals operating under dynamic environmental conditions (solar loading, ambient extremes, precipitation, and installation variability).

Develop detailed thermal models using tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent, covering conduction, radiation, and convection regimes as appropriate. Define and manage thermal interfaces across payload subsystems, including radiators, heat pipes, loop heat pipes, cold plates, and structural elements. Perform transient and steady-state thermal analyses to validate performance under mission profiles, including peak RF duty cycles, eclipse transitions, and worst-case environmental conditions.

Collaborate closely with RF, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to ensure thermal constraints are integrated into antenna element layout, T/R module design, and packaging. Establish thermal requirements, margins, and verification plans aligned with mission reliability and lifetime goals. Support hardware development, including thermal testing, correlation of models to test data, and anomaly resolution.

Drive thermal design trades balancing performance, mass, power consumption, manufacturability, and cost for both space and ground systems. Mentor junior engineers and contribute to organizational best practices in thermal engineering. Required

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, Physics or related field. 8+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace, RF systems, or high-performance electronics. Demonstrated experience with spaceborne thermal design, including vacuum environments, radiation heat transfer, and flight hardware qualification.

Strong understanding of phased array antenna systems, including thermal challenges associated with dense T/R module integration and high-power densities. Experience with thermal modeling tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Icepak, or equivalent). Knowledge of materials, coatings, and thermal interface technologies suitable for space and outdoor ground systems.

Familiarity with environmental standards (e.g., NASA, ESA, MIL-STD) and qualification testing. Preferred

Qualifications: Master's or PhD degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, Physics or related field Experience with Q/V-band or higher frequency RF systems and associated thermal constraints. Background in both space and terrestrial antenna systems, particularly electronically steered arrays. Experience with advanced cooling techniques, including loop heat pipes, vapor chambers, and liquid cooling systems.

Experience supporting production scaling and cost optimization for phased array hardware. Key Attributes: Strong systems thinking and ability to work across multidisciplinary teams. Ability to translate complex thermal challenges into practical engineering solutions.

Proven leadership in driving designs from concept through qualification and deployment. Excellent communication skills for both technical and programmatic stakeholders. Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $156,802.00 - $219,522.45 Other site ranges may differ Culture Statement Don't meet all desired requirements?

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