Spacecraft Thermal Engineer – Active Thermal

Spacecraft Thermal Engineer – Active Thermal

Requirements

• B.S. degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or closely related field with emphasis in heat transfer or thermal sciences OR equivalent experience with a Professional Engineering License
• 10+ years thermal engineering experience including the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and operation of thermal control systems for all relevant modes of heat transfer, both active and passive, and through all phases of program lifecycle
• Experience with SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop software; other applicable software includes TSS, EES, SolidWorks, SpaceClaim, CAMEO, and scripting languages such as FORTRAN and python
• Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycle, and other environmental test programs
• Demonstrated initiative and excellent leadership skills, with proven ability to build and manage effective engineering teams of 2 or more people with delivery of expected results
• Willing to travel occasionally to contractor facilities approximately 20% time
• This position will require the individual to maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Evaluating the active thermal control system for multiple crewed space vehicles while maintaining interfaces with other vehicles outside the program.
• Coordinate with the providers to understand data, analysis, models, and simulation deliverables; verify claims of accuracy, boundary conditions, results, model correlation, and model V&V.
• Lead and perform, as necessary, high priority and independent assessment of a critical aspects of the design or interaction with cross program systems/elements.
• Develop/compile a portfolio of models appropriate to support integrated analysis required for SEI, cross program, and other insight groups.
• Identify, as necessary, analyses that are needed to verify or confirm the design for different environments, mission phases, segments, operations, and performance of key components.
• Identify and track key thermal specific metrics including heat transport and rejection margins of the active thermal control system (ATCS).
• Support and monitor key trade decisions and performance characteristics including: Mass trades, heat rejection and margin, radiator tube spacing, flow control logic, effect of dust on heat rejection, fluid selection, etc.
• System level, component, and functional redundancy approaches
• Coordinate between the providers and NASA program management to observe and understand and guide integration and testing goals, plans, constraints, and requirements at all levels of assembly and maturity including development testing through functional and environmental testing. Review test plans and participate in test coordination milestone reviews and activities.
• Assist the Verification, Validation, & Certification of the thermal control systems including the Software Verification and Validation as outlined in the VVC and SVV plans
• Providing mentorship and guidance to early-career and mid-career engineers in the ATCS field, equipping them with the technical knowledge, industry best practices, and problem-solving skills essential for future NASA missions.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in mechanical or aerospace engineering or closely related field with emphasis in heat transfer or thermal sciences
• 10+ years direct spacecraft thermal engineering experience
• Deep knowledge of spaceflight-relevant fluid systems and of NASA heritage active thermal control systems.
• Experience in adjacent engineering disciplines for spaceflight hardware: systems engineering, control systems, fluid or propulsion systems, power systems, flight software and telemetry systems, integration and test
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, train, and grow less experienced staff
• Current and active Secret or higher U.S. Government security clearance