What are the responsibilities and job description for the Thermal Engineer (NASA LTVS Contingent) position at Astrolab?
Department: Vehicle Engineering
Location: Hawthorne, California
Compensation: $120,000 - $170,000 / year
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
As a Thermal Engineer, you will be responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of Astrolab's hardware and systems. You will work collaboratively across engineering disciplines to optimize thermal management solutions, ensuring the longevity and functionality of our rovers during extended missions in harsh conditions.
*Employment in this role is contingent on Astrolab being selected as a winner of NASA’s LTVS program.*
What you'll do:
- Develop thermal control strategies and systems for planetary rovers, including thermal analysis, design, and testing for operation in extreme environments
- Conduct thermal modeling and simulation, including transient and steady-state thermal analysis for systems exposed to vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes
- Perform thermal control system (TCS) design and analysis, ensuring rover components withstand operational loads and environmental hazards
- Design and validate thermal systems using industry-standard analysis tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, Sinda/Fluent, ANSYS, NX) and physical testing
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate thermal solutions into overall rover design
- Automate workflows to streamline thermal analysis processes and reduce engineering cycles
- Document designs, analysis results, and validation outcomes to support team understanding and future reference
- Review and provide feedback on the thermal designs and analyses of peers
- Drive performance improvements and cost-efficient solutions in thermal system design
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM field
- 2 years of experience with thermal modeling software such as ANSYS, NX Thermal, SINDA/FLUENT, or Thermal Desktop (Thermal Desktop experience STRONGLY desired)
- Experience performing thermal analysis and design in tandem with software programming for automation of simulation inputs and post-processing (MATLAB/Python preferred)
- Knowledge of high-performance heat transfer systems (heat pipes, thermal switches, etc.) and in-space thermal protection (MLI, MMOD, etc.)
- Experience with planetary rover systems or space-grade thermal components
- Familiarity with thermal FEA software (NX Thermal, Ansys, etc.)
- Ability to analyze and make decisions based on thermal test data and simulation results
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with reduced-order thermal modeling techniques
- Work with a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Ownership in the company
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) with matching
- Flexible time off and parental leave
- On-site snacks, beverages, and 2x weekly lunches
- Flexible work environment
Salary : $120,000 - $170,000