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Senior Mechanical Engineer, Optical Payload Thermal Design

General Atomics
General Atomics Salary
Acton, MA Full Time
POSTED ON 9/25/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/24/2025
Job Summary

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Mechanical Engineer experienced in optical space payload thermal design in Acton, MA. The ideal candidate has a strong background in the disciplines of heat transfer and thermal engineering and their applications to space systems; and direct experience in thermal design and control of spacecraft or space payloads. The successful applicant will engage and advocate for the best solutions, best practices, and best innovations for critical thermal control issues across the enterprise, both inside and outside the organization.

May function in an advisory or project leadership role providing direction to less experienced professional staff. Formulates plans, typically long term, for solution(s) development, documentation, and deployment, as well as meeting various compliance, reporting, and safety standards.

Evaluates the integration of the engineering solution within the overall engineering environment; and ensures that appropriate documentation, testing, maintenance, and engineering updates completed.

Communicates with engineering professionals, users, and management throughout the solution development cycle, represents the company as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects, interacts with senior external personnel on technical matters requiring coordination between the organizations, and participates in the development of new or expansion of existing business.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provides thermal management solutions for optical space payloads, payload components, payload subassemblies, and orbital satellite systems.
  • Delivers results as the thermal subject matter expert in thermal control systems for spacecraft and payloads. Lead and conduct analysis, modeling, simulation, experimental investigations, and assessments of designs and design concepts relating to payload thermal control systems and their components. Participate in and review thermal subsystem requirements, allocations, design, integration, test, and flight operations.
  • Documents findings and communicates reports and technical presentations at engineering meetings and participates in program reviews.
  • May assume technical and engineering responsibility for segments or key portions of contracts.
  • Engage with impact with these internal and external customers to identify, track, and resolve design, workmanship, and performance issues relating to space vehicle and payload thermal control subsystems
  • Maintains the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
  • Works in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.


We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply

Job Qualifications

  • Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
  • Experience with the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and operation of EO/IR space payload thermal control systems for all relevant modes of heat transfer, both active and passive, and through all phases of program lifecycle.
  • Experience with SINDA/FLUIT and Thermal Desktop Software; other applicable software includes CAD tools (SOLIDWORKS, CREO, NX) and scripting languages such as FORTRAN and Python.
  • Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal cycle, and other environmental test programs.
  • Demonstrates expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice in the field of thermal analysis. Prior experience with closed form (by-hand) calculations is required.
  • Must be able to effectively communicate engineering issues, solutions, and analysis results verbally to audiences with varying technical depth and experience.
  • Must be able to effectively document and present designs, analysis and test results in the form of briefing packages, drawings, documents and reports.
  • Must have experience with organizing, planning, scheduling, conducting, and coordinating workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
  • Able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance is required


Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 128,130 - 229,358

Salary : $128,130 - $229,358

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