Job Description

Thermal Engineer (All Levels)

Department: Vehicle Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hawthorne, California

Reporting To: Rob Lipton

Compensation: $125,000 - $175,000 / year

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.

As a Thermal Engineer, you will be responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of Astrolab's hardware and systems. You will work collaboratively across engineering disciplines to optimize thermal management solutions, ensuring the longevity and functionality of our rovers during extended missions in harsh conditions.

What you'll do:

Develop thermal control strategies and systems for planetary rovers, including thermal analysis, design, and testing for operation in extreme environments
Conduct thermal modeling and simulation, including transient and steady-state thermal analysis for systems exposed to vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes
Perform thermal control system (TCS) design and analysis, ensuring rover components withstand operational loads and environmental hazards
Design and validate thermal systems using software tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop, ANSYS, Sinda/Fluent) and physical tests
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate thermal solutions into overall rover design
Automate workflows to streamline thermal analysis processes and reduce engineering cycles
Document designs, analysis results, and validation outcomes to support team understanding and future reference
Review and provide feedback on the thermal designs and analyses of peers
Drive performance improvements and cost-efficient solutions in thermal system design

What you'll bring:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM field
3+ years of experience with thermal analysis and design using software tools such as MATLAB, Python, or Thermal Desktop
Experience with thermal modeling software like ANSYS, SINDA/FLUENT, or Thermal Desktop (Thermal Desktop experience highly desired)
Knowledge of high performance heat transfer systems (heat pipes, thermal switches, etc.) and in-space thermal protection (MLI, MMOD, etc.)
Experience with planetary rover systems or space-grade thermal components
Familiarity with thermal FEA software (NX, Ansys, etc.)
Ability to analyze and make decisions based on thermal test data and simulation results
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience with reduced-order thermal modeling techniques

Benefits and Perks

Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
Equity ownership in the company
Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
401(k) plan with company match
Flexible PTO and parental leave
Home office set up reimbursement
Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks

About Astrolab

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system.

Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, we are an American-owned and American-operated small business. Our team has more than five decades of experience in terrestrial and planetary robotics, electric vehicles, human spaceflight, and human intelligence field operations. Our stellar team, strategic partnerships with cutting-edge companies and institutions combine with our world-class manufacturing, integration and test facility will enable the delivery of lunar and Mars mobility solutions at maximum reliability, flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Having a strong, diverse, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values.

At Astrolab we…

Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.

Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.

Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.

Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.

Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.

Check out our website for current openings and help us drive the future of planetary exploration & development!

Industry

Aviation & Aerospace

Company Size

51-200 employees

Headquarters

Hawthorne, California

Year Founded

2019

Website

astrolab.space

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