Senior Thermal Systems Design Engineer

Department: Propulsion

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $150K – $225K

Employment Type: FullTime

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

WHO YOU ARE:

You are a generalist capable of taking full ownership of thermal management system design from concept to production. You are able to balance system function and requirements against the impacts of the system on adjacent systems and components. You navigate uncertainty and ambiguity by leveraging a strong understanding of first principles. The right person will be able to architect, build, and validate thermal systems from early prototyping through flight qualification, vehicle integration, and flight.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Generate CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and apply appropriate GD&T

• Architect thermal systems and develop 1-D fluid network models to predict system behavior, transient responses, and sensitivities

• Architect and complete detailed thermal system design and size fluid system components such as pumps, heat exchangers, valves, and regulators

• Use hand calculations and computational tools (CFD) to optimize component and system effectiveness

• Analyze heat loads, conduction paths, and interface temperatures, and define instrumentation to anchor models with test data

• Own and present design reviews to the team

• Assemble prototypes, establish test procedures, and analyze data to verify requirements and performance metrics

• Diagnose thermal system problems efficiently and determine corrective actions

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• 5+ years hands-on experience in propulsion or similarly complex thermal environments

• Proficient in CAD modeling (Siemens NX), drawing generation, and GD&T

• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid behavior

• Experience designing and analyzing thermal systems using CFD and 1D network modeling tools

• Informed on instrumentation types and limitations, and ability to anchor models with test data

• Takes initiative for continuous improvement (not just completing assigned tasks)

• Flexibility to work in fast-paced environment

• Attentive to detail and maintain a high level of quality in all work

PERKS & BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.