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ICEYE is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer to own the thermal design of its next-generation satellite platform and imaging payload. This is a founding team role in the Engineering/Optical Systems department, reporting to the Engineering Lead for Mechanical Engineering.
You will be responsible for thermal design and optimization across the entire product lifecycle—from concept and prototyping through assembly, integration, TVAC and thermal balance testing, qualification, and in-orbit validation. Key responsibilities include:
• Drive thermal analysis at the system level, ensuring both the satellite platform and imaging payload stay within temperature limits and maintain the precise thermal stability required for the instrument.
• Own thermal control hardware from concept through supplier selection and validation; guide material choices for the space environment.
• Perform hands-on thermal design and simulation of the next-generation satellite, collaborating with subcontractors during development.
• Specify and support qualification tests at system level to verify thermal performance meets requirements.
• Actively participate in thermal hardware assembly, integration, and test activities; maintain thermal control component definitions.
• Support the small founding team across all engineering activities, including close cooperation with colleagues on thermal testing and related work.
Required qualifications:
• Expert knowledge and hands-on skills in spacecraft thermal design, analysis, and optimization across all project phases (concept through qualification and integration).
• Familiarity with material science and engineering; ability to guide material selection and analysis for the space environment (outgassing, thermal cycling, thermoelastic effects). Experience with structural and thermo-mechanical analysis required.
• Familiarity with testing methods such as TVAC and thermal balance testing, including pre-launch qualification campaigns and model correlation.
• Experience in precise thermal stability control.
• Hands-on experience with thermal spacecraft hardware: heat pipes, surface treatments, MLI, and active thermal control components.
• Knowledge of Systema-Thermica, ESATAN, Thermal Desktop, and/or Simcenter 3D.
• Good understanding of spacecraft dynamics, orbital movement, and orbit evolution.
• Mindset of owning problems, solving them, and taking risks; R&D-style learning by doing and iterating.
Nice-to-have qualifications:
• Experience with thermal design for high-precision optical systems and/or high-precision actuated systems.
• Experience with thermal aspects of electric propulsion systems.
• Experience with vacuum and cryogenic applications and materials used in the aerospace industry.
ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, operating the world's largest and most advanced SAR satellite constellation. The company serves defense, intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance, and emergency management customers globally, with over 1,000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
