Thermal Engineer

at  GomSpace

AMBITIOUS SPACE COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR A THERMAL ENGINEER

At GomSpace, we are committed to make space accessible, affordable and useful.
We are an agenda-setting player in the small satellite business and our highly skilled team is committed, dedicated and accountable. We are ambitious and believe that small satellites and our efforts, multidisciplinary skills and passion will help our partners achieve their goals in space and make a difference to the society.

REQUIREMENTS

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven experience in thermal design and analysis, preferably in the aerospace or satellite industry.
• Proficiency in thermal analysis software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software (e.g., COMSOL or similar), and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software (e.g., SolidWorks).
• Experience in thermal nodal modelling.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles, thermodynamics, structural mechanics, and material science.
• Experience with thermal and mechanical testing methodologies and equipment, including thermal vacuum chambers, temperature sensors, mechanical shakers, and load frames.
• Familiarity with spacecraft environmental requirements, space mission constraints, and mechanical design standards.
• Familiarity with Python and Matlab.
• Familiarity with ECSS standards would be a nice to have.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.

In addition the following qualifications will be beneficial:

• Proven experience in mechanical design and analysis, preferably in the aerospace or satellite industry.
• Proficiency in mechanical analysis software.
• Experience with radiation work is an advantage incl.
• Testing methodologies and standards, including TID, SEE, and displacement damage testing is an advantage.
• Knowledge of radiation-hardened electronic components, materials, and design techniques.
• Ability to perform radiation dose and SEE simulations using Monte Carlo-based simulation codes.

You must be comfortable with mixed tasks with various stakeholders, and able to change focus and type of work, e.g. design tasks and analysis.
You should be a self-starter, be structured and a pro-active problem solver that works well both independently and in teams. Besides, you have a high degree of personal planning, and you can meet deadlines.

THE ROLE & DEPARTMENT

We are seeking a talented Thermal Engineer to join our dynamic team. At GomSpace, you will play a crucial role in the design, development, and testing of thermal and mechanical systems for nanosatellites and microsatellites. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the successful integration of mechanical components into our satellite platforms. WIth the right background you might have a Mechanical Design Engineer interest or background.
Programs Business Unit focuses on delivering nanosatellites and microsatellites to academic institutions, commercial customers, governmental agencies, and space industry partners. As thermal design engineer in Programs Business Unit you will be involved in satellite projects from sale process over design, development, simulation, analysis, and prototyping to supporting the assembly, integration and testing in our clean room facilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE

As thermal engineer - prerferable with mechanical design engineering skills - you tasks and responsibilities can involve but is not limited to:

• Conduct thermal analyses and simulations to predict the thermal behavior of satellite systems under different operating conditions and mission scenarios.
• Design and optimize thermal control systems, including passive and active thermal management techniques, while considering mechanical constraints and structural integrity requirements.
• Provide inputs to mechanical systems and components for nanosatellites, including structures, mechanisms, and interfaces, ensuring compatibility with thermal control solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate thermal solutions into satellite designs, considering factors such as power dissipation, thermal conductivity, structural loads, and material selection.
• Develop test plans and procedures for thermal , including thermal vacuum testing to validate design performance and verify compliance with requirements.
• Analyze test data and provide recommendations for design improvements and optimization of thermal systems.
• Support the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of thermal and mechanical hardware, ensuring proper installation, alignment, and functionality.
• Stay current with industry standards, best practices, and emerging technologies in thermal and mechanical engineering for space applications.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to junior engineers and contribute to the development of thermal analysis tools and methodologies.

Additional tasks and responsibilities could be:

• Develop mechanical systems and components for nanosatellites, including structures, mechanisms, and interfaces, ensuring compatibility with thermal control solutions.
• Perform structural analyses using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software to validate designs and ensure compliance with mechanical performance requirements.
• Develop test plans and procedures for mechanical testing, including thermal vacuum testing, mechanical vibration testing, and structural load testing, to validate design performance and verify compliance with requirements.
• Analyze test data and provide recommendations for design improvements and optimization of mechanical systems.
• Support the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of thermal and mechanical hardware, ensuring proper installation, alignment, and functionality.
• Analyze test data and provide recommendations for design improvements and optimization of thermal and mechanical systems.