LHH · 18 hours ago
Lead Thermal Engineer
ABQ-SF Metro Area
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$140K/yr - $180K/yr
5+ years expLHH has partnered with an aerospace technology company to hire a Lead Thermal Engineer who will own thermal strategy, analysis, and validation. The role involves being the technical authority for thermal performance across various subsystems and ensuring hardware is proven through tests and correlation.
Human Resources
Hiring Manager
Halli Gentry
Responsibilities
Own the thermal architecture for a high-altitude platform, selecting practical approaches that balance performance, mass, power, reliability, and manufacturability
Turn mission profiles into thermal requirements by defining limits, margins, and operating envelopes for temperature-sensitive hardware (avionics, energy storage, payloads, and structural elements)
Build and refine predictive models that capture real stratospheric drivers (low density, extreme radiative effects, eclipse/diurnal cycles, and mission-specific transients)
Run analytical and simulation-based studies to quantify steady and time-varying thermal behavior, identify hotspots, and recommend design mitigations early
Lead component-level trade evaluations for insulation strategies, coatings/finishes, radiative surfaces, thermal interfaces, conductive paths, and thermal control hardware
Plan and support qualification testing (e.g., thermal vacuum/altitude-like conditions and temperature cycling), including instrumentation strategy and pass/fail criteria
Correlate models to test results by reducing data, explaining deltas, and driving design or modeling updates until predictions match observed behavior
Partner closely across disciplines (mechanical, electrical, systems, and manufacturing) to resolve integration constraints and close real-world thermal issues
Produce high-quality documentation including analyses, assumptions, requirements, test procedures, test reports, and compliance evidence aligned to applicable standards
Contribute to design reviews and risk management by clearly communicating technical rationale, uncertainties, and mitigation plans
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field
5–10 years of hands-on thermal engineering experience supporting aerospace flight hardware (HAPS, UAS, drones, or closely related vehicles)
Demonstrated ability to independently drive thermal analyses, make recommendations, and influence cross-functional design decisions
Strong applied foundation in heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), especially in low-density/high-altitude environments
Experience developing and correlating thermal models using common industry tools (e.g., ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, or equivalent)
Proven track record supporting hardware through design, test, integration, and readiness activities in an R&D-paced environment
Strong problem-solving skills and clear technical communication/documentation habits
Preferred
Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
Hands-on involvement with thermal vacuum campaigns, environmental qualification, or flight validation programs
Familiarity with lightweight structures, composites, and advanced aerospace materials
Experience supporting mission-critical, flight-qualified, or certification-bound hardware
Benefits
Comprehensive health coverage options (medical, dental, vision, disability)
Retirement plan with company contribution/match
Workplace perks that support wellbeing and a positive on-site experience
Company
LHH
At LHH, we believe work should be meaningful, fulfilling, and connected.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
LHH has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (2)
2022 (1)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Dave Hilbig
President & CEO, OCM-LHH Utah, Wyoming
Ted Diven, MBA
CEO - OCM / Lee Hecht Harrison (ID, MT, NV)
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2025-05-17
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