Senior Thermal Engineer – Payload Systems
Core
Lead thermal design and analysis for advanced phased array antenna systems in satellite payloads and ground-based user terminals to ensure reliable performance in harsh orbital and terrestrial environments.
Role type
Senior IC thermal engineer (space/RF systems)
Builds
High-power, high-frequency satellite communication systems and ground terminals
Domain
Aerospace / Satellite Communications / RF Electronics
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
thermal architecture development, thermal modeling (conduction/radiation/convection), thermal interface management, transient/steady-state analysis, cross-disciplinary design integration, systems thinking, hardware qualification support
Preferred skills
Q/V-band RF thermal constraints, advanced cooling techniques (loop heat pipes, vapor chambers, liquid cooling), production scaling optimization
Technologies
Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS Icepak
Responsibilities
Lead thermal architecture for satellite phased array antennas; Design thermal solutions for ground terminals under dynamic environmental conditions; Develop detailed thermal models covering conduction, radiation, and convection; Define and manage thermal interfaces across payload subsystems; Perform transient and steady-state thermal analyses; Collaborate with RF, mechanical, and systems engineering teams; Establish thermal requirements and verification plans; Support hardware development including thermal testing and anomaly resolution; Drive thermal design trades balancing performance, mass, power, and cost; Mentor junior engineers
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with mentorship responsibilities