Structural Thermal Engineer Level 2/3 (AHT) (Hiring Immediately)

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Structural Thermal Engineer Level 2 or 3 located in Woodland Hills, a part of our Advanced Weapon Systems Business Unit. We are a leading defense contractor specializing in advanced missile systems and aerospace technologies. Our mission‑critical programs demand innovative thermal solutions that ensure reliability, performance, and safety under extreme conditions. Join a high‑impact team that delivers cutting‑edge capabilities to our nation’s warfighters.

This position is required to be full-time, on-site in the Woodland Hills, CA location. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position. Applicants must have ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoD Secret security clearance.

Structural Thermal Engineer is responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of missile subsystems throughout the product life‑cycle. The role works within a multidisciplinary team to ensure that all thermal solutions meet stringent performance, reliability, and safety requirements under extreme operating environments.

Due to workload cycles, this position needs to support other teams including structural, Mass Property, Dynamic, M&P, and maybe system or design.

Key Responsibilities:

· Interpret customer statements of work and technical specifications to extract and define the boundary conditions for all thermal analyses.

· Develop comprehensive system‑level thermal models of complete assemblies, as well as detailed sub‑assembly and part‑level models.

· Build high‑fidelity thermal models of circuit‑card assemblies that extend down to individual component junctions.

· Conduct both steady‑state and transient thermal simulations to predict temperature fields, heat‑flow paths, and required heat‑sinking solutions.

· Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure design concepts are manufacturable and meet program objectives.

· Prepare and support Technical Reviews, including Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR).

· Execute hand‑calculation checks to validate and cross‑verify computational thermal models.

· Design and specify thermal environmental test plans that confirm model predictions and certify hardware performance.

· Compile, document, and present analysis results, recommendations, and risk assessments to internal peers and external customers.

· Serve as the technical liaison with suppliers and customers, providing clarification, data exchange, and support as required.

Basic Qualifications Level 2:

· BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related field with 2 years of thermal‑engineering experience on aerospace or defense missile programs (design, analysis, or testing) or MS degree with 0 years of experience in the same.

· Familiar with thermal‑analysis software such as FEMAP or SINDA, or equivalent tools.

· Basic understanding of heat‑transfer fundamentals: conduction, convection, radiation, and phase‑change processes.

· Experience with thermal‑vacuum chambers, hot‑fire rigs, high‑temperature ovens, and temperature‑measurement instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, IR cameras).

· Familiarity with MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, and other defense‑related thermal‑safety standards; ability to prepare compliance documentation.

· Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance

Basic Qualifications Level 3:

· BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related field with 5 years of thermal‑engineering experience on aerospace or defense missile programs (design, analysis, or testing) or MS degree with 3 years of experience in the same.

· Proficiency with thermal‑analysis software such as FEMAP or SINDA, or equivalent tools.

· Strong grasp of heat‑transfer fundamentals: conduction, convection, radiation, and phase‑change processes.

· Hands‑on experience with thermal‑vacuum chambers, hot‑fire rigs, high‑temperature ovens, and temperature‑measurement instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, IR cameras).

· Familiarity with MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, and other defense‑related thermal‑safety standards; ability to prepare compliance documentation.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to clearly convey complex thermal concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.

· Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

· SINDA skill plus

· Knowledge of MINIVER or other aero heating codes a plus

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