{"id":3763548,"url":"https://alion.io/job/l3harris-technologies-lead-mechanical-engineer-thermal","title":"Lead, Mechanical Engineer (Thermal)","company":{"id":177017,"name":"L3Harris Technologies","domain":"l3harris.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/l3harris-technologies","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":98,"open_postings":53,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.038,"repost_share":0.038,"time_to_fill_p50_days":22,"computed_at":"2026-11-10T06:52:35Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Fort Wayne, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":13,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":true,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Thermal Desktop","optional":false}],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T14:54:57Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-11-08T14:54:57Z","days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"description":"Job Title: Lead, Mechanical Engineer (Thermal-Space Optics)\nJob Code: 46926\nJob Location: On-site in Palm Bay, FL or Fort Wayne, IN\nJob Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off \nRelocation: Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants\nJob Description:\nL3Harris is seeking an experienced and highly accomplished Lead Thermal Engineer to lead spacecraft-level thermal design, modeling, and analysis activities for advanced space based electro-optical missions. This role is responsible for architecting and validating thermal solutions that ensure mission success across multiple orbital environments. The ideal candidate is a recognized technical expert capable of driving complex spacecraft thermal strategy, mentoring engineers, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.\nThis position can be based in:\nPalm Bay, FL - https://careers.l3harris.com/en/florida\nFort Wayne, IN - https://careers.l3harris.com/en/Fort-Wayne\nEssential Functions:\nServe as the technical lead for spacecraft-level thermal design, defining architecture, strategies, and requirements for high-reliability space vehicles.\nDevelop detailed thermal models and analyses for all mission phases, including worst-case hot/cold environments, eclipse conditions, orbital variations, and mission-specific scenarios.\nLead creation and validation of thermal control hardware-including radiators, coatings, heat pipes, surface finishes, insulation, heaters, and conductive interfaces.\nOwn thermal performance budgets and flow-down of requirements to payloads, avionics, structures, and propulsion subsystems.\nEvaluate thermal impacts of system trades, configuration changes, power profiles, and operational timelines.\nDirect development of thermal math models using industry-standard tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ESATAN-TMS, or equivalent.\nProvide leadership during spacecraft hardware build, integration, and test-including thermal vacuum (TVAC) planning, execution, anomaly resolution, and correlation of test results to analysis.\nGuide environmental considerations for space platforms including radiation, conduction, convection-free behavior, material properties, surface degradation, and mission life effects.\nAct as a cross-functional leader, collaborating closely with systems engineering, mechanical design, power, RF, digital hardware, manufacturing, and mission assurance teams.\nMentor junior and mid-level engineers, establishing best practices and driving continuous improvement in thermal engineering processes.\nPrepare high-quality documentation including thermal requirements, analysis reports, review packages, test plans, and verification matrices.\nAbility to obtain a US security clearance\nQualifications:\nBachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.\n5+ years professional experience using Thermal Desktop\nPrior or current professional experience with thermal design and analysis for space environment/products\n2+ years of experience as an IPTL or providing technical leadership to an engineering team\nPreferred Additional Skills:\nExperience designing for a space environment.\nHold a current security Clearance or the ability to obtain a security clearance\nDeep understanding of spacecraft materials, thermal coatings, MLI, conductive interfaces, and active thermal control elements.\nDemonstrated success in developing, validating, and correlating thermal models to TVAC results.\nAbility to lead design reviews, guide complex decision-making, and communicate clearly with customers, leadership, and engineering teams.\nExperience working on government, DoD, or national security space missions.\nKnowledge of mission-specific environments such as GEO, LEO, cislunar, or deep space.\nBroad knowledge of thermal-fluids physics including heat conduction and convection of multi-phase flows\nExperience creating and overseeing the development of thermal testing control logic in SINDA/FLUENT\nFamiliarity with structural-thermal-optical (STOP) analysis, deployment mechanism thermal behavior, or thermal considerations in RF/high-power payloads.\nExperience with reliability assessments, derating, and long-duration thermal performance modeling.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4429,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":13,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["C4ISR","Military Satellites","Military Communication","Electronic 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