waypointjobs

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)

Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer

laurel, MD

Check who can apply and the requirements below before continuing.

About this opportunity

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) lists this Senior Spacecraft Thermal Engineer opportunity in laurel, Maryland. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.

Job description

Description

Are you an experienced spacecraft thermal engineer?

Do you enjoy solving challenging thermal problems as part of a multidisciplinary team?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

We are seeking an experienced spacecraft thermal engineer to help us develop one-of-a-kind spacecraft, payloads, and thermal control systems. Depending on the size and scope of the effort, you may serve as a senior technical contributor on a large program or lead the thermal engineering effort for a smaller project. You will contribute to Civil Space missions such as Dragonfly, National Security Space missions, and proposals for future work in both domains. You will join a multidisciplinary team of engineers who conceive, develop, analyze, test, launch, and fly spacecraft systems.

As a Senior Aerospace Thermal Engineer you will...

Lead or contribute to spacecraft thermal control system design, analysis, and testing.

Develop thermal models and conduct analyses using software such as Thermal Desktop.

Support thermal testing, including generating test plans and specifications, analyzing test data, and performing model correlation.

Assist with spacecraft integration, including procedure development, activity coordination, and installation oversight.

Conduct and communicate thermal design trade studies that balance performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule, and present thermal engineering results at peer reviews, design reviews, and other major technical reviews.

Mentor early-career thermal engineers.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

Have a BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.

Have 10+ years of experience in spacecraft or instrument thermal engineering, including thermal design, analysis, and testing across multiple phases of the development lifecycle.

Have a strong foundation in heat transfer theory and proficiency using Thermal Desktop.

Have proven experience independently leading thermal engineering tasks or small technical teams.

Are willing and able to travel up to 10% of the time

Are able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

Have an MS or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.

Have experience with airflow modeling, including forced and natural convection, and advanced Thermal Desktop capabilities such as FloCAD or TD Direct.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at  .

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact  .

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually

Worksite address

laurel, MD, 20723, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.

Ready for your next step?Apply on the official website
Apply on WhatJobs ↗

Explore related searches

Current related jobs

Capital One

WhatJobs

Machine Learning Engineer 5

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

Machine Learning Engineer 5 Do you love building and pioneering in the AI and technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in…

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job

Capital One

WhatJobs

Sr. Staff AI Engineer

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

Sr. Staff AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has …

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job

Capital One

WhatJobs

Director, AI Engineer (Remote Eligible)

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

Director, AI Engineer (Remote Eligible) At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years…

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job

Capital One

WhatJobs

AI Engineer 5 (Gen AI Platform Services)

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

AI Engineer 5 (Gen AI Platform Services) Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for goo…

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job

Capital One

WhatJobs

Machine Learning Engineer 5 (Senior Manager, IC)

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

Machine Learning Engineer 5 (Senior Manager, IC) In Risk Tech, we provide the foundation for Capital One to thrive in an uncertain world. Our eng…

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job

Capital One

WhatJobs

Machine Learning Engineer 4

richmond, VA

See pay details in description

Machine Learning Engineer 4 Do you love building and pioneering in the AI and technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in…

Last received from source 2026-10-07View job