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Astrolab · 3 days ago

Thermal Engineer

Hawthorne, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Entry, Mid Level

$120K/yr - $170K/yr

2+ years exp

Astrolab is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies, focusing on designing and building commercial planetary rovers. The Thermal Engineer will be responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of hardware and systems to ensure functionality in extreme conditions.

AerospaceManufacturingSpace Travel

Responsibilities

Develop thermal control strategies and systems for planetary rovers, including thermal analysis, design, and testing for operation in extreme environments

Conduct thermal modeling and simulation, including transient and steady-state thermal analysis for systems exposed to vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes

Perform thermal control system (TCS) design and analysis, ensuring rover components withstand operational loads and environmental hazards

Design and validate thermal systems using industry-standard analysis tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, Sinda/Fluent, ANSYS, NX) and physical testing

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate thermal solutions into overall rover design

Automate workflows to streamline thermal analysis processes and reduce engineering cycles

Document designs, analysis results, and validation outcomes to support team understanding and future reference

Review and provide feedback on the thermal designs and analyses of peers

Drive performance improvements and cost-efficient solutions in thermal system design

Qualification

Thermal modeling softwareThermal analysisHigh-performance heat transferPlanetary rover systemsThermal FEA softwareMATLAB/Python programmingReduced-order thermal modelingCommunication skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM field

2+ years of experience with thermal modeling software such as ANSYS, NX Thermal, SINDA/FLUENT, or Thermal Desktop (Thermal Desktop experience STRONGLY desired)

Experience performing thermal analysis and design in tandem with software programming for automation of simulation inputs and post-processing (MATLAB/Python preferred)

Knowledge of high-performance heat transfer systems (heat pipes, thermal switches, etc.) and in-space thermal protection (MLI, MMOD, etc.)

Experience with planetary rover systems or space-grade thermal components

Familiarity with thermal FEA software (NX Thermal, Ansys, etc.)

Ability to analyze and make decisions based on thermal test data and simulation results

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Experience with reduced-order thermal modeling techniques