Thermal Design Engineer, Amazon Leo
at Amazon
Posted 8 hours ago
No clicks
- Compensation
- $117,300 – $160,000 USD
- City
- Seattle
- Country
- United States
Currency: $ (USD)
Join Amazon Leo's Thermal Team as a Thermal Design Engineer, applying thermal analysis to spacecraft and subsystems for orbital operation conditions and vehicle control options. You will perform conceptual to detailed analyses of Bus and Payload subsystems, develop automated scripts for rapid analysis under varying power states and duty cycles, and design heat pipes as needed. You will define test setups for thermal cycling/TVAC tests, correlate results with mission models, and support design reviews with trade documentation. This role requires hands-on experience in spacecraft thermal design and proficiency with thermal simulation tools such as Thermal Desktop/SINDA, Ansys, and programming in Python or Matlab.
Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
We're looking for a Thermal Design Engineer who combines superb technical, research 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.
Key job responsibilities
- Support extensive architectural trades with preliminary thermal analysis on spacecraft and subsystems for orbital operational conditions and vehicle control options.
- Perform from conceptual to detailed analysis of Bus and Payload subsystems, components and mechanisms.
- Develop automated scripts enabling rapid analysis updates accommodating trades (power states, duty cycles, structural mapping).
- 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 and select test equipment as needed (e.g., sensors, data logging equipment etc.)
- Perform thermal model correlation using test results.
- Conduct testing of prototypes and engineering models for fast design feedback loops.
- Plan and execute characterization, qualification and acceptance tests.
- Document trades and design evolution, and preparation of materials for design review gates.
About the team
Amazon Leo's Thermal Team is responsible for the thermal design solutions for all components in Leo's satellites and customer terminals. We work together with many engineering disciplines (e.g., mechanical, power, electrical, network) to find the design that maximizes performance while minimizing mass, cost and manufacturing complexity, and enabling all components to operate reliably over the satellite’s target lifetime. The team follows all hardware components from conceptual design, detailed analysis, development testing, through launch and flight.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, material science, physics or equivalent- 2+ years of hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems experience
- 1+ year experience with thermal simulation software (e.g., Thermal Desktop (SINDA), Ansys), and programming (e.g., python, Matlab).
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/networks development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, certification, and livesite operations- Experience with hardware/software integration and real-time systems
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
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 https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Redmond - 117,300.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually

