Thermal Engineer

About PLD Space

PLD Space is an international company on a mission to transport satellites into space, vertically integrating the engineering, testing, manufacturing, and operations of its reusable and sustainable rockets. Headquartered in Elche (Spain) and founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú, PLD Space has established itself as a global benchmark in the small satellite launch sector. Its family of MIURA launchers and LINCE crewed capsule position the company as a leader in European technological sovereignty for space transportation, covering the full spectrum of space missions.

PLD Space operates over 188,000 m² of facilities in Elche, Teruel (Spain), Kourou (French Guiana), and Duqm (Oman), enabling the company to provide comprehensive satellite and payload launch services into space.

Teamwork, courage, determination and ambition enable PLD Space to guarantee an autonomous, independent satellite space access capability, based on reliability at a globally competitive price. The company is able to offer best-in-class launch services to commercial satellite operators, institutions, space agencies and national and international governmental entities.

Mission

As

a Thermal Engineer at PLD Space, your mission is to ensure the thermal

performance and reliability of our launch vehicles by conducting in-depth

thermal analyses and providing thermal design solutions for both stages. Your

role is crucial in optimizing thermal protection, optimize thermal control by

passive and active means when necessary, and ensuring the longevity and safety

for reusable launch vehicles. For each mission, the Thermal Engineer will

ensure that the Payload thermal requirements are met on ground and during

flight.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal

  analysis and modeling of launch vehicle systems and subsystems, including

  thermal loads, heat transfer, and temperature distribution predictions.

• Collaborate with

  design teams to develop thermal control strategies and solutions,

  including the selection of materials, insulation, and thermal protection

  systems for propellant tanks and CFRP structures.

• Vehicle thermal

  control system architecture sizing and definition.

• Contributing to

  concept of operations development and mission operations.

• Conduct thermal

  design reviews to ensure compliance with thermal requirements.

• Analyze and

  optimize the thermal performance of critical components, such as

  structures, equipment, and payload, for the ground operations and in flight.

• Conduct thermal

  testing and validation of hardware and subsystems, including hot-testing,

  cryogenic testing, thermal vacuum tests and thermal cycling tests.

• Provide

  technical expertise and guidance on thermal issues throughout the design,

  development, and testing phases.

• Collaborate with

  cross-functional teams, including mechanical engineers, systems engineers,

  mission engineers and manufacturing teams, to ensure thermal

  considerations are integrated into the overall system design.

• Generate thermal

  design documents, analysis reports, documenting methodologies and design

  standards, assumptions, and results for internal use and customer

  review.

• Generate

  documentation for formal program development reviews.

Required Knowledge

• Aerospace

  Engineering bachelor’s degree or related technical discipline. Advanced

  degree preferred.

• > 1 years of

  relevant technical experience.

• Demonstrated

  experience and advanced knowledge in thermal systems, thermal analysis,

  and design solutions (MLI, coatings, heating systems…), including

  manufacturing and assembly limitations/constraints and hardware

  verification.

• Strong

  understanding of heat transfer principles, thermal management techniques,

  and thermal control systems.

• Working

  experience with thermal and mechanical computer aided design tools,

  particularly Thermal Desktop, ESATAN-TMS or SYSTEMA.

• Knowledge of

  materials properties and their impact on thermal behavior in aerospace

  applications.

• Familiarity with

  thermal testing methodologies and procedures.

• Understanding and

  knowledge of space environmental factors.

• Must have

  general understanding and application of standard principles, theories,

  concepts and techniques in heat transfer and thermal engineering.

Required Competencies

• Analytical

  thinking and problem-solving skills to perform complex thermal analyses

  and identify design solutions.

• Excellent

  mathematical and computational skills for performing thermal simulations

  and analyses (GMM and TMM)

• Strong attention

  to detail and accuracy in analyzing data, conducting simulations, and

  documenting results.

• Ability to work

  in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, managing multiple tasks and

  priorities.

• Strong

  organizational and time management skills to meet project deadlines and

  milestones.

• Ability to work

  both independently and in a team, fostering a collaborative and innovative

  work environment.

• English

  B2-C1.

Desired Competencies

• Familiarity with

  spacecraft and/or launch vehicle systems including launch and orbital

  environments.

• Working

  experience with natural and forced convection, linear conduction,

  radiation and numerical algorithms.

• Proficiency with

  Thermal Desktop analysis software

• Experience with

  programming such as Matlab and/or Python.

• Knowledge of

  thermal control system design and integration.

• Understanding of

  thermal interface materials and their application in aerospace

  systems.

• Understanding of

  engineering simulation such as finite element structural analysis (FEA)

  and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

• Experience with

  thermal testing equipment and procedures.

• Knowledge of

  industry standards and regulations related to thermal analysis and thermal

  control systems.

• French

  B2-C1.

Benefits

Health

& Wellness

• Physiotherapy

  within our facilities

• 50%

  discount on your health insurance

• You

  can sign-up your family members with health insurance at a competitive price.

• Healthy

  snacks and lots of fruit

Find

balance

• 23 days of paid vacation plus

  December 24th and 31st

• Flexible work schedule

Never

stop learning

• We encourage practical learning
• We promote professional development

  through internal mobility and teamwork

Focus

on your financial future

• Childcare flexible contributions
• Restaurant tickets
• Transport flexible contributions
• Training support

Values

We

have five critical beliefs that guide the way PLD Space is shaping the future

of space launch technologies.

• Teamwork.
• Hard

  work.

• Dynamism.
• Commitment.
• Keep

  it simple.

Join

us to reinvent how rockets are built!