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Thermal Engineer (Falcon, Dragon, & Starfall)

SpaceX· Falcon and Dragon Avionics & Software Engineering
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Hawthorne, CA$100k - $117.5kFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Thermal engineer responsible for end-to-end thermal design of SpaceX launch vehicles and spacecraft (Falcon, Dragon, Starfall), from concept through build and validation, with scope across aerothermal and vehicle fluid systems.

Responsibilities

  • Own the thermal design of spacecraft, launch-vehicle, special-program, and component hardware end-to-end: from initial concept and high-level trades, through detailed 3D and reduced-order modeling, into CAD/build, and out to validation against ground test, flight, and orbital data (e.g. on-orbit thermal analysis, thermal protection system (TPS) sizing, heater and coolant-loop design, acceptance/qualification test-level derivation, issue-ticket resolution)
  • Translate thermal analysis into real design decisions — materials, coatings, insulation, interfaces, heater and TCS architecture — and carry them from concept to flight hardware
  • Automate your workflow to cut engineering investment in the design cycle
  • Pursue performance and robustness improvements in the hardware
  • Pursue operational simplicity and reduce the burden your designs place on other groups at SpaceX
  • Produce quality documentation of your work to reduce miss-rate and improve efficiency
  • Review peer work

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of experience using programming languages including, but not limited to, Python, MATLAB, and EES (internships and school projects apply)

Skills

Required:Thermal design and analysisProgramming (Python, MATLAB, EES)

Benefits

  • Long-term incentives (stock or long-term cash awards) and potential discretionary bonuses
  • 401(k) retirement plan, medical/vision/dental coverage
  • Paid parental leave, paid vacation and holidays, paid sick leave
  • Access to employee discounts and other perks
Last updated Aug 5, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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