Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer

AI in this role

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Mechanical Engineering team as a Thermal Engineer developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it. AscendArc is a startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity. Responsibilities

Lead the development of global spacecraft thermal models and subsystem trade studies.
Define and implement thermal control system specifications and test requirements.
Translate mission environments into thermal design requirements, balancing heritage systems with first-principles analysis.
Influence hardware qualification plans and support test campaigns with analysis, instrumentation planning, and data interpretation.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, with a focus in thermal sciences or related discipline
5+ years of experience in thermal analysis, preferably in spacecraft or aerospace applications
Proficiency with industry-standard thermal modeling tools, Ansys Thermal Desktop preferred
Strong understanding of thermal control systems, space environments, and heat transfer fundamentals
Hands-on experience supporting thermal testing, including instrumentation planning and data analysis

Who We’re Looking For
We’re searching for exceptional talent at any career stage — from early-career engineers to senior and staff-level experts. Compensation will be adjusted accordingly. More than years of experience, we value high-caliber individuals with the drive and creativity to help launch Oregon’s first commercial communications satellite.
We’re looking for people who:

Thrive in a cradle-to-grave design environment and take ownership from concept through launch.
Bring energy, curiosity, and a responsible engineering mindset.
Want to work alongside other exceptional people in an environment where great ideas rise to the top.

Hybrid WorkThis position is based at our Beaverton office. We value the collaboration that comes from working together in person, while also supporting flexibility. Team members typically spend three days a week in the office and may work from home up to two days each week. Base Salary
The base salary range for this position is $180,000 - $210,000/year. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed.
Legal Eligibility to Work
Due to U.S. export control regulations, this position is only open to “U.S. persons.” That means you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or have refugee/asylee status. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applicants on temporary work visas (such as H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.) for this role.
Equal Employment Opportunity
AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.

How we score this

Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer at AscendArc scores 32 out of 100 on AI centrality, which makes it AI Level 1 of 4 (Little AI) on this board. The level measures how much of the work is AI, not seniority.

Classification

AI Level 1. The work itself involves no AI, or AI only appears as scenery, such as a company tagline.