Senior Systems Engineer - Thermal

Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, a trailblazer in space robotics, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a sustainable presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth. We are seeking a talented, experienced Senior Systems Engineer - Thermal to help define the future of lunar surface mobility in a fast-paced startup environment.The main responsibilities for this role will be to help supervise requirements management, standards compliance, verification, validation, and testing activities, to define/contribute to and maintain subsystem interfaces, and to serve in a technical oversight role for vendors and subcontractors working on the thermal system.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Thermal IPT Lead in defining and maintaining thermal subsystem requirements, including allocation, traceability, and verification planning
• Develop and maintain interface definitions (ICDs) between thermal hardware and spacecraft subsystems (structures, avionics, propulsion, EPS)
• Coordinate with Thermal Analysis, Mechanical Design, and Systems Engineering to ensure design closure and requirements compliance
• Contribute to verification & validation (V&V) planning, including definition of test methods, success criteria, and requirement mapping
• Develop and execute thermal test plans (component, subsystem, and vehicle-level), including thermal balance and TVAC campaigns
• Support integration and test (I&T) activities, including instrumentation planning, test setup definition, and data review
• Generate and maintain engineering documentation (ICDs, test plans, procedures, verification matrices)
• Support procurement and build of thermal hardware, including vendor coordination and drawing reviews
• Participate in internal and customer design reviews (SRR/PDR/CDR) and present status, risks, and technical findings
• Identify and communicate risks, gaps, and integration issues, proactively driving resolution in a fast-paced development environment
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of relevant spacecraft or aerospace thermal systems experience
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field
• Demonstrated experience with requirements development, flowdown, traceability and verification (Jama or similar tools preferred)
• Experience defining and managing interfaces (ICDs) across multidisciplinary systems
• Direct experience supporting or executing thermal test campaigns
• Working knowledge of passive and active thermal control hardware: MLI, heaters, radiators, coatings, heat pipes, fluid loops
• Strong understanding of space thermal environments and heat transfer in space environments (radiation-dominated systems)
• Ability to operate autonomously and take initiative
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• U.S. Person
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or equivalent tools
• Startup or rapid development program experience
• Experience with NASA/DoD standards (GEVS, MIL-STD)
• Experience with verification method selection and standards tailoring based on risk posture
• Thermal instrumentation and test data analysis experience
• Exposure to hardware/software integration
• Experience supporting configuration management and change control processes
  
  

Any offer of employment for this position is conditional upon Lunar Outpost receiving the LTVS SubCLIN 1C Award from NASA. If the contract is not awarded to Lunar Outpost, this offer will be considered null and void, without further obligation to Lunar Outpost.

Compensation & Benefits: Compensation level and base salary are competitively structured and thoughtfully determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, education, and the scope of the role.

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with 70% of premiums covered by the employer
• Paid time off: Three (3) weeks per year of vacation
• Retirement plan: Up to 4% employer match on 401(k) contributions
• Paid holidays: 11 company-recognized holidays
• Parental leave
• Educational reimbursement opportunities to support company objectives, continued learning, and career development
  
  

Lunar Outpost Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Lunar Outpost Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employees, including executives and human resources personnel, are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism and treat others with dignity and respect in accordance with this policy.