Thermal Design Engineer - SAR

• Develop the thermal architecture for the SAR payload to ensure compliance with mission and instrument thermal requirements.
  
• Perform thermal analysis for all mission phases, including launch, ascent, orbital operation, eclipse, survival, and safe modes.
  
• Design passive thermal control systems, including multilayer insulation (MLI), thermal coatings, thermal straps, radiators, and conductive interfaces.
  
• Evaluate the need for active thermal control systems such as heaters, and temperature control electronics.
  
• Develop detailed thermal mathematical models (TMM) of the SAR payload and associated subsystems.
  
• Perform steady-state and transient thermal simulations to evaluate payload performance under expected orbital environments.
  
• Analyse thermal interfaces between payload components, spacecraft bus, and supporting structures.
  
• Support thermal design optimization to minimize temperature gradients and maintain dimensional stability of critical SAR components.
  
• Define thermal requirements for electronics, RF hardware, antennas, power amplifiers, and precision mechanical assemblies.
  
• Collaborate with structural engineers to evaluate thermo-elastic effects and thermal deformation.
  
• Plan and support thermal balance tests (TBT), thermal vacuum (TVAC) tests, and environmental qualification campaigns.
  
• Correlate thermal models using test data and update analyses as required.
  
• Prepare thermal design reports, analysis reports, interface documents, test procedures, and verification documentation.
  
• Support launch preparation, in-orbit commissioning, anomaly investigations, and mission operations from a thermal engineering perspective.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in thermal engineering for aerospace, spacecraft, or high-reliability systems (experience requirement may be adjusted based on role level).
  
• Strong understanding of heat transfer principles, including conduction, convection, and radiation.
  
• Experience developing thermal mathematical models for complex engineering systems.
  
• Knowledge of spacecraft thermal environments and orbital heat loads.
  
• Experience with thermal control materials and hardware used in spacecraft.
  
• Familiarity with thermal design verification and environmental testing.
  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills.
  

• Experience in spacecraft payload thermal design.
  
• Knowledge of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload architecture and operational requirements.
  
• Experience with spacecraft thermal analysis software such as Thermal Desktop®, FlowTherm, ICEPACK, or equivalent.
  
• Familiarity with finite element analysis (FEA) tools for coupled thermal-structural analysis.
  
• Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC) and thermal balance testing.
  
• Experience in thermo-elastic analysis and dimensional stability assessment.
  

Benefits

• Opportunity to contribute to advanced Earth observation and radar space missions.
  
• Work in a multidisciplinary team developing cutting-edge space technologies.
  
• Exposure to spacecraft thermal design, environmental testing, and mission operations.
  
• Professional development in high-reliability aerospace engineering.