Thermal Engineer

Full Timemid

San FranciscoPosted February 13, 2026

Job Description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Thermal Engineer

As an Astranis Thermal Engineer, you will design, evaluate and test thermal solutions ranging from electronic chips to full spacecraft thermal vacuum tests.You must have a strong problem-solving background as well as hands-on testing skills. Experience with spacecraft or printed circuit board thermal mitigation are benefits but not required.

Role

Mature designs through conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design phases using practical passive and active thermal control techniques.
Support design trades that successfully balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule.
Perform thermal analysis to varying degrees of fidelity (simplified to detailed) on a variety of different types of hardware such as propulsion components, batteries, high powered electronics, RF components, mechanisms, and printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Design, evaluate, procure and test thermal solutions such as heaters, heat pipes, thermal interface materials, and surface coatings.
Develop processes and procedures for integration and assembly which ensure thermal design intent is met. Collaborate with the integration and test team; provide assistance with the installation of thermal hardware as needed.
Plan and run thermal vacuum testing and verification at the component and spacecraft level.
Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or physics
Experience in thermal analysis and thermally-constrained design; computational thermal design experience (finite methods) is not required but highly preferred
Proficiency with mechanical CAD
A passion and enthusiasm for hardware development, including working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on design and development
Don't meet them all? Not a problem. Please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.

Bonus

Experience with Thermal Desktop
Experience with Electronics Packaging and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design
Experience building and operating high vacuum systems

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$110,000—$140,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.

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