Senior Thermal Design & Analysis Engineer (SAU – SAR Antenna Unit)
- Posted
- 13 Mar 2026
- Source
- Zoho Recruit
Team & Role:
You will be joining the SAR Antenna Unit (SAU) team as a Senior Thermal Design & Analysis Engineer. You will own the complete thermal architecture of the SAR Antenna Unit, ensuring stability, performance, and reliability from concept definition through on-orbit validation.
Responsibilities:
● Own the thermal architecture of the SAR Antenna Unit end-to-end.
● Develop detailed orbital thermal models (steady-state & transient).
● Perform high-fidelity thermal simulations for gradients, distortions, and thermo-elastic effects.
● Conduct coupled thermal-structural analysis for dimensional stability.
● Define and implement thermal control strategies (MLI, coatings, heaters, isolators).
● Establish temperature, distortion, and alignment budgets aligned with RF performance.
● Support deployable antenna design with thermal expansion evaluations.
● Develop and validate Thermal Mathematical Models (TMM) and correlate with TVAC test data.
● Support environmental testing (thermal balance, TVAC, vibration-thermal interaction).
● Collaborate with RF, structural, AIT, and Bus teams for compatibility.
● Generate and present reports for PDR, CDR, TRR, and QR reviews.
● Drive root-cause analysis for thermal anomalies and corrective iterations.
● Mentor junior engineers in thermal modeling and best practices.
● Drive root-cause analysis for thermal anomalies and corrective iterations.
● Mentor junior engineers in thermal modeling and best practices.
Requirements
Must-have Qualifications:
● 3–6 years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or aerospace thermal design & analysis.
● Strong expertise in orbital thermal analysis and spacecraft environments.
● Proficiency in Simcenter 3D (thermal & coupled thermal-structural analysis).
● Deep understanding of thermo-elastic distortion and dimensional stability.
● Strong knowledge of passive & active thermal control techniques.
● Experience correlating thermal models with thermal balance and TVAC test data.
● Solid understanding of aerospace materials and thermal properties (CTE, conductivity, emissivity).
● Ability to translate RF performance constraints into thermal/mechanical design requirements ( efficient
thermal dissipation from IC and RF PCBs, EMI/EMC of the enclosure, etc)
● Strong technical documentation and design review participation.
Good-to-have:
● Experience with radar or high-frequency RF payloads.
● Familiarity with deployable structures.
● Working knowledge of structural FEA workflows in Simcenter 3D (NX Nastran).
● Experience designing thermal aspects of test support equipment.
● Exposure to spacecraft Bus thermal interface design.
● Experience with heater control electronics and sensor placement strategies.
● Background in thermal-optical property characterization.
● Prior flight hardware qualification experience.
● Experience in fast-paced private aerospace or new-space environments.
What We Look For:
● Ownership mindset and ability to lead complex thermal design efforts.
● Curiosity and eagerness to solve multidisciplinary challenges.
● Adaptability to fast-paced start-up environments.
● Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
● Passion for aerospace and enthusiasm to contribute to real-world satellite missions.
Benefits
● Competitive compensation aligned with market standards.
● Experience rapid growth in a start-up culture.
● Flexible working hours.
● Opportunity to work closely with the Founding Team.
● Mentorship from advisors with decades of aerospace experience.