Mechanical Thermal Engineer

Thermal Engineer

Overview Energy is turning uninterrupted sunlight in space into directable energy on Earth. From our homebase in Virginia were building satellites that will deliver energy from orbit to the grid and make solar a reliable 24 / 7 resource.

The Role

The Thermal Engineer will serve as a technical leader responsible for the thermal design analysis and testing of spacecraft systems operating in harsh space and ground environments. This role involves developing spacecraft thermal system configurations performing analyses supporting testing and contributing to flight operations. You will work across multidisciplinary teams to create optimal system designs incorporating thermal control solutions that maintain component temperatures within operating and survival limits. The ideal candidate will be innovative possess deep expertise in aerospace thermal engineering and demonstrate the curiosity and initiative to challenge existing approaches.

Key Responsibilities

Perform spacecraft thermal design and analyses at the board component subsystem and system levels

Develop spacecraft and subsystem thermal models to predict thermal loads temperature gradients and margins for system design

Lead thermal design and development activities for space-based environments and payload-level integration

Create and evaluate design concepts using thermal analysis and FEA tools such as Thermal Desktop ANSYS or equivalent

Design passive and active thermal control systems including heat pipes radiators thermal blankets coatings heater tapes and thermistors

Conduct thermal design and analysis for complex mechanical hardware including precision mechanisms electromechanical devices and electronics packaging

Support the design fabrication and installation of Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets

Lead and participate in environmental test campaigns including thermal vacuum testing and thermal balance testing

Required Qualifications and Experience

Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field

610 years of hands-on experience in thermal engineering for spacecraft or aerospace systems

Strong background in heat transfer and thermodynamics

Experience supporting spacecraft flight programs through environmental testing and launch campaigns

Knowledge of passive and active thermal control hardware design and implementation

Understanding of thermal constraints and design requirements in space environments

Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex data clearly

Proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams

Adaptability and resourcefulness in a fast-paced dynamic development environment

U.S. citizenship required

Preferred Skills and Experience

Masters or PhD in Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline

Familiarity with mission-level thermal design trade studies and system optimization

Experience developing or maintaining thermal analysis automation scripts (e.g. MATLAB Python)

Prior experience in a startup or early-stage aerospace company environment

Experience mentoring engineers and building thermal analysis best practices within a growing team

Benefits :

The health and safety of our employees and their families comes addition to competitive salary and equity we offer medical dental vision disability and life insurance coverage a health and wellness stipend 6 weeks of paid time off parental leave and employer 401K matching. The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits at any time.

ITAR Requirements :

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity Employer :

Overview Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with Overview Energy is based on merit competence and qualifications and is not influenced by race color religion gender national origin ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status or any other legally protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process please contact our Human Resources team at

Studies show that women and individuals from underrepresented groups often apply for jobs only if they meet all listed qualifications. We encourage anyone who believes they can succeed in this role to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed.

Key Skills

Mechanical Design,System Design,FEA,ASME Codes & Standards,CAD,Mechanical Knowledge,Creo,SolidWorks,Mechanical Engineering,Autocad,HVAC Design,Autodesk Inventor

Employment Type : Full-Time

Department / Functional Area : Engineering

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1