Spacecraft Thermal Engineer

About Overview Energy

Overview Energy is a mission-driven team committed to building a new layer of energy infrastructure: satellites in geosynchronous orbit that redirect solar energy to terrestrial solar projects via passively safe near-infrared light. We're in the earliest phase, where every thermal path between a multi-kilowatt payload and deep space is designed, built, and tested end-to-end by a small, dedicated team. Headquartered in the Northern Virginia / Washington, DC area and backed by world-class investors, we are advancing the next generation of clean energy technology.

About The Role

We’re hiring a Spacecraft Thermal Engineer to co-own thermal control for our first spacecraft and the GEO platform behind it. This role is built for someone a few years into their career who has already taken a thermal model into a chamber and seen what the test proved wrong.

A multi-kilowatt payload in geosynchronous orbit has to shed its heat to deep space through full sun and eclipse, year after year. Your design keeps the optics aligned and the electronics alive nearly 36,000 km from anyone who could fix them. Get it right, and the beam lands exactly where solar farms need it.

Based in our Ashburn, VA office, you’ll work alongside our structures, optics, and integration teams. You’ll build the models, run the chamber, and correlate the results yourself. Along the way, you’ll stand up our thermal test capability, carry an SBIR-funded deployable radiator from proposal through test, and write the standards every future spacecraft will use.

What You'll Do

• Co-own thermal control design for our first spacecraft and GEO platform, from radiator sizing and heater zones to coatings and MLI
• Build and correlate Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT models, running the hot and cold cases, trades, and margins
• Deliver optical bench temperature maps to the structures and optics teams for Structural Thermal Optical Performance (STOP) analysis, and update them as the geometry changes
• Specify and procure flight thermal hardware, hold suppliers to spec, and verify what arrives
• Stand up our thermal test capability: TVAC chamber upgrades, ambient-pressure testing, precision temperature sensing, heater control, and the procedures to run them safely
• Plan and run thermal balance and thermal cycle tests, then correlate every model to test data
• Define thermal cycling profiles with the structures analyst so their strain measurements and your temperature data line up
• Support 2027 spacecraft integration at partner facilities, installing and checking out strongback and optical bench thermal hardware (up to ~25% travel at peak)
• Defend the thermal design at peer and mission reviews, and own the thermal section of the design package
• Write the thermal design, analysis, and test standards the next engineer inherits

What We're Looking For From You

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Physics, or a closely related field, with 3–8 years of spacecraft thermal design and analysis experience.
• At least one thermal design you carried from Thermal Desktop model through thermal vacuum test and correlation, and can walk us through on a whiteboard, including what the tests told you the model got wrong.
• Working proficiency in Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT, or a comparable tool and the willingness to switch.
• Hands-on chamber time: instrumenting hardware, running a test, and reducing the data.
• Working knowledge of spacecraft thermal control hardware: temperature sensors, heaters, phase-change materials, heat pipes, MLI, and thermal control coatings.
• Python, MATLAB, or Excel VBA to automate analysis and test data reduction.

We Have a Strong Preference For

• M.S. in a relevant engineering or physics discipline.
• Thermal hardware you designed that has flown.
• STOP analysis on an optical payload: you've handed thermal distortion to an optics team
• Board and box-level electronics thermal design for space.
• Standing up or upgrading a thermal test facility: chamber, DAQ, and heater control.
• Heat pipes, loop heat pipes, or deployable radiators for high-heat-flux payloads.
• Flight thermal hardware integration and test planning.
• Buying thermal hardware from a supplier and verifying it against the spec.
• Writing a proposal for, or leading, an SBIR or other technology development effort.

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $170,000 commensurate with experience. Individuals with demonstrated exceptional ability may be considered beyond this band.

Our Benefits

We take care of our people. In addition to competitive salary and equity, Overview Energy offers comprehensive medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage, a health and wellness stipend, 4 weeks paid time off, 2 weeks sick leave, parental leave, and 401(k) matching. Benefits are subject to change at the Company's discretion.

ITAR Requirements

This position is subject to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Overview Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact us at [email protected].

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented groups often only apply for roles where they meet every listed qualification. If you believe you can succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply - even if you don't check every box.