Spacecraft Thermal Architect

About the role

ClearSpace is building sustainable space operations and seeks a Spacecraft Thermal Architect to lead thermal design across all mission phases. The role sits within the Mechanical, Thermal and Propulsion team and acts as the technical authority for spacecraft thermal architecture.

Key responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft thermal architecture throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Define and justify overall thermal control strategy for the spacecraft and payloads.
• Lead thermal design trade‑offs involving passive and active solutions.
• Develop and maintain thermal budgets, margins and system‑level requirements.
• Conduct thermal modelling, correlation and analysis for all mission phases.
• Specify thermal hardware such as MLI, coatings, heaters, radiators, heat pipes and sensors.
• Coordinate thermal analyses with mechanical, propulsion, avionics and systems engineers.
• Define verification strategies and support qualification and acceptance testing.
• Assess thermal impacts of configuration changes, non‑conformances and anomalies.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers, suppliers and partners, and mentor junior thermal engineers.

Required profile

• 10+ years of spacecraft thermal engineering experience.
• Proven track record as lead or principal thermal engineer on spacecraft programs.
• Strong expertise in thermal control systems, passive and active technologies, and thermal analysis methodologies.
• Extensive experience with thermal modelling, budget development and correlation activities.
• Familiarity with ECSS thermal engineering standards and thermal vacuum testing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Required skills

• ESATAN‑TMS thermal analysis software.
• CAD tools for thermal hardware design.
• Thermal modelling and simulation.
• Thermal vacuum testing procedures.
• ECSS thermal engineering standards.