Thermal Designer (Contingent)
Design
Toronto, ON, Canada
CAD 100,622-150,622 / year + Equity
Position Status: Contingent Upon Program Award
We are seeking a Thermal Designer to lead the thermal development and verification of spacecraft subsystems.
This role combines thermal architecture, thermal analysis, hardware development, testing, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure spacecraft systems operate reliably throughout all mission phases and environmental conditions. The successful candidate will own thermal performance from concept through qualification, working closely with systems, RF, electrical, software, mechanical, manufacturing, AIT, and mission operations teams to develop robust and scalable solutions.
The ideal candidate thrives in environments where thermal performance, mass, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost must all be balanced to achieve mission success. They are equally comfortable developing thermal models, designing thermal control solutions, interpreting test data, and solving complex multidisciplinary challenges.
This role is an opportunity to directly influence the next generation of Kepler spacecraft while helping establish the engineering practices, technical rigor, and thermal engineering capability that will enable Kepler to become a world leader in spacecraft development and space infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the thermal development of spacecraft subsystems from concept through flight qualification and successful transition into production
Own subsystem-level thermal development activities including thermal architecture, thermal modeling, thermal control design, verification, testing, and qualification
Design and evaluate thermal control solutions including conductive, radiative, and passive thermal management approaches
Define thermal requirements, operating limits, and thermal performance margins throughout the development lifecycle
Demonstrate compliance with thermal requirements through analysis, testing, and documented margins of safety
Develop and maintain thermal models used to predict spacecraft and subsystem thermal performance
Define thermal verification strategies and success criteria aligned with mission requirements
Establish orbital thermal boundary conditions and environmental assumptions used in thermal analyses
Plan and execute thermal test campaigns to validate performance and reduce technical risk
Correlate simulation results with physical testing to continuously improve model fidelity and engineering confidence
Lead thermal investigations and drive complex technical issues through to resolution
Work closely with systems, RF, electrical, software, mechanical, manufacturing, supply chain, AIT, and mission operations teams to develop integrated spacecraft solutions
Facilitate technical discussions regarding thermal performance, design trades, risks, and recommendations
Coordinate thermal activities across stakeholders to ensure successful integration, verification, and delivery
Contribute to the continuous improvement of thermal engineering methods, modeling approaches, verification practices, and development workflows
Act as a peer reviewer, mentor junior engineers, and provide technical leadership within project teams
Promote a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
Thermal Development & Ownership
Analysis, Verification & Risk Reduction
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Engineering Excellence
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or equivalent
4+ years of experience developing thermal solutions for complex mechanical, aerospace, or spacecraft systems
Strong understanding of heat transfer, thermo-optical radiation, thermal control systems, and spacecraft thermal environments
Experience developing and correlating thermal models using simulation and physical testing
Experience defining thermal requirements, operating limits, and verification approaches
Experience with one or more thermal analysis platforms such as Simcenter Space Systems Thermal, Thermal Desktop, or equivalent
- Demonstrated willingness and ability to leverage AI-assisted engineering and development tools to improve productivity, design quality, and innovation while adapting to evolving technologies and best practices
Experience with CAD platforms such as Onshape, Creo, SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent
Understanding of design for manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test principles
Strong communication and documentation skills working within multidisciplinary engineering teams
Comfortable operating in a hands-on development environment involving prototyping, testing, troubleshooting, and hardware development
Bonus Points:
Experience developing spacecraft, satellite, aerospace, or other mission-critical hardware
Experience assessing and managing thermal interfaces between spacecraft platforms and customer payloads
Experience defining orbital thermal boundary conditions and spacecraft thermal architectures
Experience with thermal vacuum (TVAC), thermal balance, or environmental qualification testing
Familiarity with ESA ECSS, NASA, or equivalent aerospace thermal engineering standards
Experience supporting hardware transition from development into production
Eligibility for Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licensure in a Canadian jurisdiction
Salary Range: $100,622 - 150,622 CAD
Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.
Job Type: Contingent Upon Program Award
