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Thermal Engineer

Torrance, California

A New Paradigm For Space Operations. 

Who We Are:
Space Kinetic is a cleared, venture-backed startup focused on addressing urgent national security priorities. Our goal is to deliver a suite of asymmetric capabilities for space superiority and missile defense leveraging our proprietary electromechanical deployment system, which enables the rapid deployment of low-cost payloads through space without firing a thruster. Space Kinetic is currently assembling its TRL-5 prototype. Our goal is to leverage this platform to provide the United States with a new tool for securing the space domain & catalyzing the emerging space economy.
 
What You’ll Do:
Space Kinetic is looking for a Thermal Engineer to assist with thermal analysis, hardware design and test within the simulation group of the mechanical engineering department.  The candidate should excel at meeting deadlines, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and collaborating effectively with diverse engineering teams and clients to develop high-quality data products.
Occasionally, the candidate may support tasks in a hardware development environment. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.
Responsibilities Will Include:
  • Thermal hardware design, analysis and test (MLI blankets, heaters, venting, heat pipes, sensors, etc…)
  • Work with mechanical teams to develop passive and active thermal control hardware for the spacecraft including radiators, heaters, heat pipes, surface coating etc..
  • Technical document creation and management
  • Database creation and maintenance
  • Interfacing with Manufacturing and Production to monitor component fabrication progress
  • Interfacing with integration and test group to monitor component integration
  • Compilation of comprehensive parts lists using information from Bills of Materials (BOMs), engineering drawings, online databases, and data from subcontractors and suppliers
  • Spreadsheet organization and extraction
What It Takes:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 1-2 years of related experience. Advanced Degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.) in similar disciplines are highly valued with correspondingly lower experience requirements.
  • Thermal design of satellite components, from initial high-level analysis down to validation of performance with ground tests and orbital data
  • Devise, build and run tests to validate the performance of the hardware in extreme conditions
  • Produce quality documentation of your work to reduce miss-rate and improve efficiency
  • Operate and use lab tools and equipment.
  • Proficiency with thermal simulation tools and Microsoft Suite of software, including SharePoint
  • Experience using space thermal analysis software similar to ANSYS Thermal Desktop Sinda/Fluint/RadCad, Siemens Space Systems Thermal or similar
  • Experience designing MLI blankets or similar spacecraft hardware
  • Experience in spacecraft integration and testing
  • Experience in CAD software (Solidworks, CREO, AutoCAD)
  • Proficiency in understanding and extracting information from specifications (NAS, SAE, MS, etc.)
  • MATLAB/Python basic knowledge
  • Ability to deliver against an aggressive schedule
  • In order to be successful in this role, you should be someone who is uniquely creative, self-driven, and is able to lead his or her projects to completion
  • General knowledge of mechanical assemblies and parts
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder).
What We’d Love:
  • Prior experience with spacecraft design
  • Experience working on a launch vehicle or satellite development effort
  • Experience in a startup or agile development environment
  • Passion for the commercial and government space industry.
Where You’ll Be:
  • The position will be on site at our headquarters in Torrance, CA.
What We Offer: 
  • Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation
  • Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
  • Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure
  • Health and Wellness Stipend
  • Commuter Benefits
ITAR Requirements: 
This position is subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.  Learn more about ITAR here
 
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.  

Pay Range

$75,000 - $125,000 USD

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