Senior Thermal Design Engineer, Hardware Development Engineer III

Amazon Leo is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to un-served and under-served communities around the world.

The mission of Amazon Leo's Government (ALG) team is to leverage existing Amazon Leo technology and provide high speed, low latency, and secure satellite broadband services to the United States and our allied government customers.

ALG is looking for a Senior Thermal Design Engineer who combines superb technical and analytical capabilities with a demonstrated ability to get the right work done quickly and effectively. This person must have experience working in spacecraft design, producing top notch thermal analysis and providing essential thermal related input and recommendations to vehicle architects and subsystem leads.

This position requires that the candidate selected be a US Citizen and candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance of TS/SCI.

CODE-10037

Key job responsibilities
Responsibilities:

• Detailed and comprehensive analysis of bus and payload subsystems, components and mechanisms.

• Support extensive architectural trades with preliminary thermal analysis on spacecraft and subsystems for orbital operational conditions and vehicle control options.

• Drive design optimizations for performance, mass, cost, in support of all system reliability (thermal) requirements through application of a range of thermal control hardware options.

• Design, analyze and select heat pipes as needed for bus and payload components.

• Develop automated scripts enabling rapid analysis updates accommodating trades (power states, duty cycles, structural mapping).

• Define and execute test setups for thermal cycling and TVAC tests for development and qualification testing at subsystem and vehicle level, and correlate test results with mission operations models.

• Define / select test equipment as needed (TVAC / thermal chambers, sensors, data logging equipment etc.) and correlation of test results with mission operations models.

• Acceptance Test and Qualification planning, test simulation, and execution. Correlation of results with predictions.

• Launch Vehicle environment simulation from integration through launch.

• Documenting trades and design evolution, and preparation of materials for design review gates.

• Support thermal design for terrestrial equipment and systems with CFD analysis as appropriate.

Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience with analysis simulation software/tools, including writing custom scripts to enable rapid design trades and iterations for spacecraft and subsystem configuration optimizations for various orbital cases and duty cycle scenarios.
- Experience with spacecraft thermal design, and delivering design solution optimized for mass, cost, reliability, performance, manufacturability.
- Experience in development of, and/or selection of, range of thermal control hardware; materials and finishes, paints, interface materials, MLI blankets, heat-pipes, radiators, temperature sensors, heaters.
- Experience with test planning, test set-up, results correlation and system verification for production.
- Experience with interpreting and correlating data from on–orbit telemetry.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in mechanical engineering or related field.
- 5 years or more in startup environment: design, parts procurement, development test, qualification, and flight/launch ops.
- Experience in design, analysis, manufacturing, testing and integration of heat pipes for space applications.
- Developing spacecraft thermal solutions for high power flux components.
- Experience w/ thermal design implementations for high volume production.
- Design for batch testing for subsystem workmanship tests.
- Experience with Thermal Desktop (SINDA), Ansys and Python (or matlab).
- Experience using NX and TeamCenter.
- Experience with performing tests under standards SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000 and/or MIL-STD-1540.
- Ability to coordinate between engineering, test lab and technicians and schedule testing resources.
- Experience in reviewing and developing test plans and procedures.
- Experience with data acquisition systems for thermal and power applications.
- Hands-on thermal chamber experience: Tcycle and TVac. Running and troubleshooting chamber.
- Chamber preparation experience: feedthrough, port plate design, thermocouple DAQ.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company's reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $128,600/year in our lowest geographic market up to $213,600/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.

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