Thermal Design Engineer - SAR

GalaxEye aims to shape the future of Satellite Image Acquisition, providing the most meaningful datasets, thus helping businesses and governments make data-driven decisions based on insights from satellite imagery. We design and build advanced remote-sensing satellites and develop value-added services for geospatial analytics and infrastructure customers.

We are seeking a highly motivated Thermal Design Engineer to lead the thermal design, analysis, and validation of a space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing thermal control solutions that ensure the payload operates within specified temperature limits throughout all mission phases, including launch, commissioning, nominal operation, eclipse, and end-of-life conditions.

The role involves designing passive and active thermal control systems, performing thermal analyses, supporting environmental testing, and collaborating with structural, mechanical, RF, electronics, systems, and mission engineers to deliver a reliable, flight-qualified payload.

Key Responsibilities :

• Develop the thermal architecture for the SAR payload to ensure compliance with mission and instrument thermal requirements.
• Perform thermal analysis for all mission phases, including launch, ascent, orbital operation, eclipse, survival, and safe modes.
• Design passive thermal control systems, including multilayer insulation (MLI), thermal coatings, thermal straps, radiators, and conductive interfaces.
• Evaluate the need for active thermal control systems such as heaters, and temperature control electronics.
• Develop detailed thermal mathematical models (TMM) of the SAR payload and associated subsystems.
• Perform steady-state and transient thermal simulations to evaluate payload performance under expected orbital environments.
• Analyse thermal interfaces between payload components, spacecraft bus, and supporting structures.
• Support thermal design optimization to minimize temperature gradients and maintain dimensional stability of critical SAR components.
• Define thermal requirements for electronics, RF hardware, antennas, power amplifiers, and precision mechanical assemblies.
• Collaborate with structural engineers to evaluate thermo-elastic effects and thermal deformation.
• Plan and support thermal balance tests (TBT), thermal vacuum (TVAC) tests, and environmental qualification campaigns.
• Correlate thermal models using test data and update analyses as required.
• Prepare thermal design reports, analysis reports, interface documents, test procedures, and verification documentation.
• Support launch preparation, in-orbit commissioning, anomaly investigations, and mission operations from a thermal engineering perspective.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace, spacecraft, or high-reliability systems (experience requirement may be adjusted based on role level).
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles, including conduction, convection, and radiation.
• Experience developing thermal mathematical models for complex engineering systems.
• Knowledge of spacecraft thermal environments and orbital heat loads.
• Experience with thermal control materials and hardware used in spacecraft.
• Familiarity with thermal design verification and environmental testing.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience in spacecraft payload thermal design.
• Knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload architecture and operational requirements.
• Experience with spacecraft thermal analysis software such as Thermal Desktop®, FlowTherm, ICEPACK, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with finite element analysis (FEA) tools for coupled thermal-structural analysis.
• Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC) and thermal balance testing.
• Experience in thermo-elastic analysis and dimensional stability assessment.

Benefits

• Opportunity to contribute to advanced Earth observation and radar space missions.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team developing cutting-edge space technologies.
• Exposure to spacecraft thermal design, environmental testing, and mission operations.
• Professional development in high-reliability aerospace engineering.