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Senior Thermal Engineer, Space

Anduril· AFS : Space Engineering
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Costa Mesa, CA$146k - $194kFull-timePosted 10mo ago

About the role

Senior Thermal Engineer responsible for thermal design, analysis, testing, and tool development for space vehicle or payload programs, with a focus on first-principles analysis, thermal margins, and collaboration across disciplines within Anduril's Space team.

Responsibilities

  • Own the thermal design and analysis of a space vehicle or payload program
  • Use first principles as a basis for every decision and discern the right level of analysis to apply. Execute hand calculations, spreadsheet, and MATLAB/Python first-order models to inform path forward before jumping into detailed design
  • Define worst case thermal environments across the vehicle mission lifetime
  • Define system thermal budgets and requirements through collaboration with engineers in other disciplines
  • Drive thermal architectures and hardware definitions, such as radiator sizing, coating selections, heater power allocation, MLI definitions, thermal interface material selections, thermal management techniques, and trading heat transport devices
  • Support PCBA thermal analysis and electronic component thermal management
  • Own the development, planning, and execution of unit and system thermal vacuum, thermal balance, and thermal cycle tests
  • Develop internal tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of analysis
  • Develop, prepare, and execute thermal tests to inform analysis and reduce risk on key hardware assemblies

Qualifications

  • BS, MS, or higher degree in engineering, applied physics, or hard science
  • Demonstrated knowledge of heat transfer in academic and/or professional setting
  • Application of first-order hand calculations to drive thermal architectures and verify accuracy of higher fidelity models
  • Proficiency in Thermal Desktop or equivalent thermal simulation tool
  • Thermal experience with spacecraft components such as optical payloads, electronics, mechanisms, etc.
  • Hands-on experience prototyping hardware and conducting thermal tests
  • Experience with CAD, selecting instrumentation, post-processing data, correlating models
  • Ability to independently navigate and solve complex, open-ended technical problems in a fast-paced environment
  • CAD experience (Siemens NX preferred)
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to thermal considerations
  • Passion for defending the United States and her allies
  • U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data

Skills

Required:Thermal design and analysisFirst-principles analysisThermal modeling toolsCAD

Benefits

  • Competitive salary with equity grants included in offers
  • Top-tier benefits for full-time employees (health, recovery, and more)
  • Comprehensive benefits package available at little to no cost to employees
Last updated Oct 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Anduril

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