Fluids Design Engineer - Heat Exchangers

Location: Long Beach, CA

Department: Engineering

About the role

Orbital Operations is seeking a highly motivated Fluid Systems Engineer to lead the design and development of heat exchangers critical to our Cryogenic Propulsion Management System (CPMS). You will design thermal management hardware that integrates with reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) systems, high-performance turbomachinery, and low-loss cryogenic storage. The ideal candidate brings experience designing and prototyping thermal-fluid systems for aerospace or other high-performance environments and is excited to help shape the infrastructure for a more maneuverable space domain.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Lead conceptual and detailed design of cryogenic heat exchangers, including plate-fin, printed circuit, and custom compact geometries.
• Perform thermal and fluid flow analysis across operating conditions typical of in-space cryogenic systems (e.g. LOX, LH2, GN2, GH2).
• Collaborate with the turbomachinery and RBC subsystem teams to ensure thermal interfaces and system dynamics are optimized for performance, reliability, and thermal stability.
• Support system modeling and simulations (FEA, CFD) to validate heat exchanger performance and optimize geometry under extreme space environments.
• Interface with fabrication partners to develop manufacturing approaches for high-precision cryogenic heat exchangers.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in heat exchanger or cryogenic thermal system design in aerospace or similar hardware-focused industry.
• Proficiency in thermal/fluid simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, STAR-CCM+, COMSOL).
• Experience with materials and fabrication methods relevant to cryogenic and vacuum environments (e.g., brazing, diffusion bonding, welded alloys).
• CAD proficiency (e.g., SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with systems engineering practices and traceable design processes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cryogenic propulsion systems, reverse Brayton cycles, or compact high-performance heat exchangers.
• Working knowledge of aerospace fluid system standards (e.g., NASA-STD-5017, ASME BPVC VIII).
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, or qualifying flight hardware.
• Programming skills in Python or MATLAB for data reduction or automation of analysis workflows.

About the Company

About Orbital Operations

At Orbital Operations, we’re building the future of dynamic space maneuvering. Our mission is to enable rapid-response orbital capabilities, executing maneuvers without hesitation and without regret.

Our flagship technology, the Cryogenic Propulsion Management System (CPMS), is redefining what’s possible in space mobility. Designed for military and commercial spacecraft, CPMS delivers sustained, high-thrust maneuverability in geosynchronous and cislunar orbits. It integrates low-loss cryogenic storage, reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) thermal control, and turbomachinery-driven propulsion to make spacecraft more agile, resilient, and responsive.

Beyond defense, CPMS is poised to transform commercial orbital logistics. By powering next-generation orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs), it can slash LEO-to-GEO transit times from six months to just eight hours—unlocking new possibilities for satellite servicing, deployment, and beyond.

Join us in building the infrastructure for a more maneuverable and mission-ready space domain.