Spacecraft Thermal Engineer I

Department: Propulsion Engineering

Location: TX

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

Firefly Thermal Engineers apply simulation and first-principles of heat transfer to solve challenging spacecraft thermal problems encountered throughout vehicle design, development, testing, and flight. Working alongside experienced engineers, Level I Thermal Engineers develop analytical models, support testing, evaluate thermal control concepts, and contribute to spacecraft that operate in some of the most demanding environments imaginable.

This role is ideal for an engineer eager to build expertise in spacecraft thermal analysis while learning industry-standard tools and engineering practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support development of spacecraft thermal models under guidance from senior engineers.
• Perform thermal analyses using established methods and document assumptions, inputs, and results.
• Assist with subsystem and vehicle thermal trade studies.
• Create and maintain Thermal Desktop models and supporting analytical tools.
• Support thermal vacuum testing by preparing models, reviewing test data, and correlating analytical predictions.
• Evaluate spacecraft thermal control hardware including MLI, coatings, heaters, insulation, and radiators.
• Work closely with propulsion, structures, avionics, GNC, and systems engineers to understand thermal interfaces.
• Present analysis results during internal design reviews and incorporate technical feedback.
• Continuously improve technical knowledge of spacecraft thermal engineering methods and tools.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 0–3 years of relevant engineering experience
• Fundamental understanding of heat transfer principles
• Familiarity with engineering simulation software (Thermal Desktop, ANSYS, COMSOL, Simcenter, or similar)
• Basic programming experience with Python or MATLAB
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary engineering teams

Desired

• Internship or research experience involving spacecraft, aerospace, or thermal analysis
• Exposure to thermal testing or laboratory instrumentation
• Familiarity with CAD software
• Experience with Thermal Desktop
• Understanding of spacecraft thermal control concepts