Senior Thermal Engineer

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

The Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team to develop thermal system architectures, generate flight predictions, and inform mission operations to survive all environments through all mission phases from ascent to reentry. This position drives spacecraft hardware design and testing from the vehicle level down to the component level.  It is a highly team-oriented role with exposure to all aspects of spacecraft analysis, design, test, performance validation, integration, and operations.

As a senior thermal analyst, a thorough understanding and experience in active and passive thermal control systems are essential. You will often flex between quick hand calculations and detailed analysis to support program needs and determine associated vehicle impact and risk. You will also contribute to thermal team data processing and documentation workflows to ensure a robust system as we scale in vehicle production and mission operations. A proactive problem-solving approach and commitment to meeting tight schedules are critical to support Varda's goals of expanding manufacturing capabilities and reentry systems.

When you join our team, you will be side by side with curious innovators and relentless problem solvers. You will interface with internal and external stakeholders as a technical authority in the physics of heat and mass transfer. Clear and thorough verbal and written communication is fundamental for individual and team success.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles. 
• Ensure spacecraft thermal design includes passive and active means of controlling the vehicle system and component environments within operating and survival limits during all mission phases. Seek solutions that provide operational simplicity and system robustness.
• Create and maintain tools/systems for pre- and post-processing thermal analysis.
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to define thermal hardware requirements, such as optical properties, conductances, insulation, passive and/or active thermal control, vehicle attitude control, etc. 
• Predict thermal loads and inform component level acceptance and qualification tests.
• Provide thermal guidance to vehicle level testing, such as thermal bakeout, Vehicle-In-The-Loop (VITL), Thruster Hot Fire, etc.
• Plan and execute vehicle level Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing for future vehicles.
• Publish flight temperature and active thermal control predictions and provide thermal guidance to hardware teams, energy budget, and mission operations.  
• Anchor thermal models to vehicle level Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing and/or flight data to assess performance and improve thermal models. 
• Define Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blanket design, fabrication, and installation.
• Work independently with minimal technical oversight
• Work open ended problems to inform technical decisions, balancing efficiency and fidelity.
• Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical peer reviewer.
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline with a minimum of 5 years of related professional experience, or a Master's degree in a related engineering discipline and 3 years of related professional experience.
• Experience and knowledge in developing passive and active thermal control systems.
• Proficiency in detailed thermal analysis and troubleshooting in programs such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, MSC Nastran.
• Experience anchoring thermal models to test and/or flight data.
• Experience in planning and executing Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVac) testing.
• Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation. 
• Ability to structure open ended problems and perform initial sizing with hand calcs.
• Experience in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks.
• Familiarity with thermal margins and test requirements in SMC-S-016 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication (structures, avionics, software, production, GNC, etc.)
• Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast-moving organization 
  
  

Preferred Skills And Experience

• 7-10 years of related professional work experience
• Experience of an entire spacecraft vehicle lifecycle, from initial concept, design development, production, integration, and test to mission operations. 
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft thermal control technologies (e.g. heat pipes, pumped fluid systems, thermal blankets, optical coatings, etc.) 
• Experience in thermal design and analysis of reentry systems
• Project management or project leadership experience 
  
  

Pay Range

• $133,650 - $170,000 per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
  
  

ITAR Requirements

• Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
  
  

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)

Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
• 401(k) matching (interns excluded)
• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)
  
  

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

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