{"id":766191,"url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer","title":"Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer","company":{"id":51900,"name":"The Exploration Company","domain":"exploration.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/the-exploration-company","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":90,"open_postings":27,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.185,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":90,"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Munich, Germany"],"countries":["DE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":98000,"max_usd":196000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":96},"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-11T19:49:05Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-11","last_verified_at":"2026-11-02T21:03:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":52,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":52},"description":"Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.\nWe are seeking an experienced Senior Spacecraft Thermal Verification Engineer to join our Thermal Control System team. You will be the technical lead for the preparation, execution and exploitation of thermal verification activities by test across the Nyx program. You will own spacecraft-level thermal test campaigns, including Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) and Thermal Balance testing, support AIT with the Thermal Control System Flight Model integration and verification, coordinate thermal qualification activities with other sub-systems, and ensure compliance with spacecraft verification requirements.\nYou will work closely with System Engineering, AIT, Test facilities, Program, Avionics and Propulsion. You will be part of the TCS & ECLSS Team and will report to the Principal Thermal Control System Engineer.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead Thermal Vacuum and Thermal Balance Campaigns\nDefine test objectives, verification logic and success criteria of the Nyx system TVAC campaign\n\nDevelop test plans, test procedures and operational concepts with other functional chains and AIT\n\nPrepare and lead Test Readiness Reviews, Test Review Board and NCR Board\n\nLead test logic and execution of spacecraft, subsystem and components thermal test campaigns.\n\nDrive anomaly and NCR investigations and technical decision-making during testing.\n\nPresent campaign status and recommendations to project leadership.\n\nDeliver test reports and verification evidence packages\n\nOwn Thermal Test Verification Strategy\nEnsure thermal requirements are properly verified through test, inspection or demonstration.\n\nBuild and maintain verification events.\n\nDrive verification closure toward Qualification Review and Flight Readiness Review.\n\nSupport Technical Reviews, Design Reviews and Qualification Reviews.\n\nEnsure TCS verification activities by tests remain aligned with program priorities, schedules and risks.\n\nSupport Flight Model Integration and AIT\nWork alongside AIT teams during spacecraft assembly and integration.\n\nDefine thermal instrumentation strategies and test configurations.\n\nSupport installation, verification and troubleshooting of thermal hardware.\n\nParticipate in integrated spacecraft functional testing.\n\nSupport leak testing, functional testing, fluid loop commissioning and system check-outs.\n\nDrive Thermal Test Data Exploitation\nSupport pre-test thermal predictions.\n\nAnalyze thermal test results.\n\nAssess subsystem and spacecraft performance.\n\nIdentify design improvements and operational recommendations.\n\nEnsure lessons learned are captured and disseminated across the organization.\n\nWhat We Are Looking For\nRequired Experience\nMSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Thermodynamics or equivalent.\n\n10+ years' experience in spacecraft thermal engineering\n\nProven experience leading Thermal Vacuum and Thermal Balance campaigns.\n\nExperience with Spacecraft qualification and acceptance programs\n\nExperience supporting spacecraft assembly, integration and test activities.\n\nStrong understanding of thermal control systems and their implementation (MLI, Temperature sensors, Heaters, Pumped Fluid Loops...)\n\nExperience working with suppliers and external test facilities.\n\nExperience with thermal instrumentation, DAQ systems and test facility interfaces\n\nExperience with test-data processing tools, preferably Python, MATLAB or equivalent\n\nFluent in English. German, French and Italian are an asset\n\nSkills & Behavior\nStrong oral and written communication skills\n\nStrong analysis and problem-solving skills\n\nStrong organizing and prioritization of tasks\n\nPositive and flexible attitude to get the job done\n\nDemonstrates behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Vision, Competence, Integrity and Passion\n\nWhy you should join us!\nWhat makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:\nWe’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind\n\nWe’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them\n\nWe have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?\n\nWe'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. \nThe Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable. \n\nAll offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. \nIf applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5438,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"Advanced (C1)","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Aerospace Manufacturing","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T20:08:47Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":65,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":0.72,"age_days":51,"expected_fill_days":90,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:mid","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-02T22:33:09Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":31624,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-03T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51900},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51900"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/the-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-spacecraft-thermal-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":766191}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"exploration.space","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":766191},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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