Thermal Engineer
US$153,000 – US$172,000 / yr base salary
Posted 18 Aug 2026
Advertised as “Thermal Engineer II”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Level
- II
- Expected experience
- 5+ yrs
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- Hybrid
| Base salary | US$153,000 – US$172,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
About the role
Muon Space is hiring a Thermal Engineer II to own the thermal design and analysis of spacecraft assemblies and subsystems — from hand calcs and models through TVAC test support. You'll work independently within your scope and partner across mechanical, electrical, and systems teams.
This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.
Responsibilities
- Build and run thermal models (Thermal Desktop or similar): TVAC margin, conduction/radiation hand calcs, and transient analyses.
- Own the thermal analysis package for an assembly or subsystem end-to-end.
- Size radiators and heaters and define component thermal limits and margins.
- Support thermal verification and TVAC test campaigns, including data reduction.
- Coordinate thermal interfaces with mechanical, electrical, and systems teams.
- Mentor interns and junior engineers through model reviews.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years (BS+5 / MS+3) in spacecraft or aerospace thermal engineering.
- Independent user of a thermal analysis package (Thermal Desktop or equivalent).
- Experience with TVAC or other spacecraft thermal testing.
- Solid grasp of conduction/radiation fundamentals and hand calcs.
- B.S. or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, Physics, or a related field.
Nice-to-have
- Scripting in Python or Matlab.
- Mechanical CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
- Experience with IR-imaging systems or spacecraft payloads.
Salary
The salary range for this role is $153,000 - $172,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.
About Muon Space
Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.