What are the responsibilities and job description for the Thermal Engineer position at Aetherflux?
Mission
Aetherflux's mission is to deliver energy to planet Earth. Our work will make energy more accessible, establish American energy independence, power underdeveloped and disaster-stricken areas, and protect American warfighters.
Background
Aetherflux is taking a new approach to an old idea called space solar power. Our constellation of satellites will collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit, convert it to electricity, and transmit power through infrared lasers to ground stations, providing reliable energy access where traditional delivery is expensive, challenging, or dangerous.
Current energy systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme weather, and physical and cyber attacks. Aetherflux overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable 24-hour energy distribution from space. This can revolutionize energy generation and delivery, and enable new capabilities as we deliver power to remote regions, military bases, bespoke operations, and unmanned autonomous systems.
Baiju Bhatt, who also co-founded Robinhood, founded Aetherflux in 2024. Inspired by his father’s career at NASA, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before starting Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Aetherflux is currently self-funded through a $10 million investment from Baiju.
This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Aetherflux’s team has worked at places like Robinhood, SpaceX, NASA, Anduril, JPL, and the U.S. Navy, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.
Overview
The Thermal-Mechanical Engineer will design, analyze, and implement thermal management solutions for our space-based power transmission platform. This role will focus on developing thermal control strategies for high-power laser systems, spacecraft electronics, and structural components operating in extreme space environments. The ideal candidate will have experience with spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and testing, ensuring reliable performance in Low Earth Orbit.
Responsibilities
- Thermal System Design : Develop spacecraft thermal management architectures, including active and passive cooling solutions for high-power laser payloads.
- Thermal Analysis & Modeling : Utilize thermal simulation tools such as ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, and COMSOL to predict system behavior in space conditions.
- Heat Transfer Optimization : Design heat exchangers, radiators, and phase change materials for optimal thermal performance.
- Vacuum & Radiation Considerations : Evaluate the effects of vacuum, radiation, and extreme temperature fluctuations on spacecraft thermal systems.
- Thermal Testing & Validation : Develop and execute thermal vacuum chamber tests, thermal cycling tests, and in-orbit validation plans.
- Integration with Mechanical & Electrical Systems : Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure seamless integration of thermal management solutions.
- Material Selection : Identify space-grade thermal materials, coatings, and insulation for spacecraft structures.
- Reliability & Safety : Conduct failure mode analysis and implement redundancy in thermal control systems.
- Collaboration : Work with optics, avionics, and propulsion teams to address thermal constraints in system design.
Basic Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Benefits
Disclaimer
This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Aetherflux’s discretion.
Aetherflux is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Aetherflux is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.
ITAR Requirements
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 the ITAR here .
