Thermal Engineer

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About Aerospacelab

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2026, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 500 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Role overview

As a Thermal Engineer at Aerospacelab, you will play a critical role in designing and implementing thermal control solutions for satellites across various missions. Utilizing your expertise in thermal engineering, you will be key in ensuring that all components remain within their operational temperature ranges throughout their missions. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, you will guide the thermal design from concept through launch, focusing on thermal stability and performance.

Key activities

Perform thermal analyses of satellites and subsystems
Develop and maintain thermal models at satellite and subsystem level.
Contribute to the design and sizing of thermal control hardware
Support the definition of thermal interface requirements for units and payloads.
Support thermal balance and thermal vacuum test campaigns, including test predictions, test follow-up, and post-test data processing.
Contribute to thermal model correlation using test and in-flight data.
Provide thermal input to hardware and mechanical teams during design iterations.
Prepare technical documentation
Interact with suppliers regarding thermal data, models, and interface aspects.
Develop scripts and tools to automate repetitive tasks and streamline the thermal analysis workflow.

Must have

MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
Experience in satellite thermal design and analysis. Relevant spacecraft-focused thesis or internship experience is considered.
Experience with a thermal analysis tool such as Systema-Thermica, ESATAN-TMS, Thermal Desktop, or similar.
Good understanding of heat transfer fundamentals (conduction, radiation, convection) and the space thermal environment.
Good communication skills, team spirit, and a proactive mindset.
Fluency in English.

Nice to have

Enthusiasm for automating tasks and streamlining workflows, with scripting skills (Python).
Experience with FEM-based thermal analysis (e.g. Simcenter 3D / NX Thermal).
Familiarity with relevant standards (ECSS, NASA)
Hands-on experience with thermal or thermal vacuum testing.