Thermal Engineer

Role

We are looking for a skilled Thermal Engineer with experience in spacecraft thermal management at both the subsystem and spacecraft level.

You’ll work closely with a cross-functional team - including mechanical, propulsion, electronics, and mission planning - to ensure reliable thermal performance of our satellite throughout all mission phases: from launch to operation in orbit and end-of-life.

You should be capable of delivering a thermal control system from scratch and taking full ownership of it, ensuring the success of our mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform steady-state and transient thermal analysis of the spacecraft across all mission phases (TVAC testing, launch, orbit).
• Model and validate heat management strategies in the harsh environment of vacuum, where conduction and radiation are dominant
• Identify and manage worst-case scenarios in extreme thermal conditions (both hot and cold), accounting for on-orbit environmental factors and internal power dissipation
• Design and implement thermal control solutions such as multilayer insulation (MLI), radiators, heaters, thermo-optical coatings, thermistors, and thermal straps
• Develop and support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test procedures, instrumentation setup, and post-test data analysis.
• Be hands on in hardware testing for validation of processes, instrumentation, and materials and components chosen for in house developments

Fundamental Requirements

• Solid understanding of thermal engineering principles in the context of spacecraft systems.
• Hands-on experience with thermal simulation tools such as Systema, Thermal Desktop, ESATAN, or equivalent.
• Experience with environmental and lab testing (TVAC, thermal cycling, AIT process

validation).

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience designing or testing spacecraft thermal systems.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary space system development or mission analysis.

Why NewOrbit Space?

• Pioneering space technology - Your work on our RF gridded ion thrusters and VLEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and challenge traditional LEO.
• Ownership and impact - You'll have a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry, and you'll take part in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
• Equity and competitive salary - Alongside a competitive salary you receive a company ownership stake, so you share in the technology you help build and in our collective success.
• Comprehensive benefits - Private health insurance with dental and optical cover, and annual health check-ups.
• Hybrid working - One dedicated remote day per week.
• Visa sponsorship and relocation support - We sponsor visas and provide relocation support for candidates moving to join us.