Thermal Engineer - Space Hardware

$140,000 - $180,000/Yr

Aduril Industries - Costa Mesa, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Costa Mesa, CA

About the position

As a Thermal Engineer at Anduril Industries, you will play a crucial role in the development of space hardware by owning the thermal design, analysis, testing, and vendor management associated with our cutting-edge programs. Your expertise will be pivotal in ensuring that our systems can withstand the harsh environments of space. You will utilize first principles to guide your decisions, applying the appropriate level of analysis to inform your designs. This includes executing hand calculations, utilizing spreadsheets, and employing MATLAB or Python for first-order modeling before delving into detailed design work. You will be responsible for defining robust thermal architectures that can endure extreme conditions, including hot and cold edge cases that may impact system performance. Your ability to communicate the pros and cons of various system architectures with respect to thermal considerations will be essential, as you will present thermal status updates during formal reviews with both internal teams and customers. Additionally, you will develop internal tools aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of thermal analysis, and you will create a comprehensive database of materials, thermal properties, and vendors relevant to thermal hardware for space applications. Your role will also involve supporting failure reviews and conducting root-cause analyses using test data and thermal analysis to ensure the reliability and performance of our systems. This position requires a strong foundation in thermal engineering principles and a passion for advancing military capabilities through innovative technology.

Responsibilities

• Own the thermal design, analysis, test, and associated component vendor management of a space hardware development 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 good thermal architecture to withstand the space environments.
• Define and quantify hot, cold, and any other edge cases that drive the system.
• Communicate pros/cons of system architecture with respect to thermal considerations.
• Present thermal status at formal reviews internally and with customers, providing clear understanding of timelines and technical status.
• Develop internal tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of analysis.
• Develop a database of materials, thermal properties, and vendors of thermal hardware for use in space.
• Support failure reviews and root-cause analysis with test data and thermal analysis.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or higher degree in engineering or applied physics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of heat transfer in academic and/or professional setting.
• Proficiency in Thermal Desktop or equivalent thermal simulation tool.
• Hands-on experience prototyping hardware and conducting thermal tests.
• Experience selecting instrumentation, post-processing data, correlating models.
• CAD experience with SolidWorks or Siemens NX.
• Passion for defending the United States and her allies.
• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data.

Nice-to-haves

• 2+ years professional experience as a thermal analyst using Thermal Desktop.
• Design or test experience on a space platform.
• Experience developing code in higher-level languages like Python or MATLAB for applications like lumped thermal capacitance steady state and transient analysis.
• Ability to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance.

Benefits

• Platinum Healthcare Benefits: 100% covered for you and 90% for dependents.
• Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for UK roles, fully covered for employee and dependents.
• Private health plan through Bupa for AUS roles, fully subsidized.
• Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance 100% covered, with options for additional coverage.
• Generous company holiday calendar and highly competitive PTO plans.
• 16 weeks of paid Caregiver & Wellness Leave.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support including fertility and adoption coverage.
• Free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and life coaching.
• Professional development stipend available to all employees.
• Daily meals and provisions in many offices.
• Company-funded commuter benefits based on region.
• Relocation assistance depending on role eligibility.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with traditional and Roth options (US roles only).