Thermal Aerospace Engineer

Client Overview

Our client is an innovative aerospace engineering firm focused on advancing next-generation flight systems, spacecraft, launch vehicles, and hypersonic technologies. The organization partners with government and commercial customers to solve complex aerospace challenges through advanced modeling, simulation, analysis, and design. Their highly collaborative environment offers engineers the opportunity to contribute directly to cutting-edge aerospace programs while working alongside multidisciplinary technical teams.

Overview

TRC Talent Solutions is seeking a Senior Thermal Engineer for a contract opportunity supporting an Aerosciences and Structures team. This position is open to remote candidates, with preference given to individuals located in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Alabama, or Texas.

This role is ideal for an experienced aerospace engineer with expertise in thermal analysis and modeling of high-speed flight vehicles, spacecraft, launch systems, or re-entry vehicles. The successful candidate will contribute to the design, simulation, and performance evaluation of advanced aerospace systems operating in challenging thermal environments.

Summary

The Senior Thermal Engineer will be responsible for performing thermal design, analysis, and modeling activities for launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, and hypersonic flight systems. This individual will evaluate thermal environments, predict thermal loads and surface temperatures, support component and system-level thermal performance assessments, and mentor team members in thermal analysis methodologies.

The ideal candidate combines strong first-principles knowledge of heat transfer with practical experience using industry-standard thermal modeling tools and aerospace design processes. Success in this role requires technical excellence, collaboration, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities
Support thermal design and analysis activities for advanced aerospace systems.
Analyze launch vehicle and spacecraft thermal environments to support system and component design decisions.
Predict thermal loads, heat fluxes, heat rates, and surface temperatures for hypersonic flight vehicles and aerospace structures.
Perform thermal modeling and simulation using industry-standard tools.
Support the development, verification, and enhancement of thermal analysis methodologies and code bases.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams including structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems engineering.
Evaluate thermal protection systems, heat shields, and thermal management solutions.
Train and mentor team members in the use of Thermal Desktop and related analysis tools.
Support modeling, simulation, analysis, and design activities for atmospheric, exo-atmospheric, launch, re-entry, and high-speed flight systems.
Document and communicate technical findings through reports, presentations, and design reviews.

Required
Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Minimum of 5 years of aerospace industry experience in thermal analysis, modeling, and design.
Strong understanding of radiative, conductive, and convective heat transfer principles.
Experience supporting thermal analysis activities for aerospace systems, including launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, aircraft, or hypersonic platforms.
Proficiency with thermal analysis tools such as:
Thermal Desktop
SINDA/FLUINT
ANSYS
FIAT
COMSOL
Sentry
Similar thermal modeling software
Experience using CAD software such as:
SolidWorks
Siemens NX (Unigraphics)
CATIA
PTC Creo
Solid Edge
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience supporting the design, modeling, or analysis of:
Hypersonic atmospheric vehicles
Earth-to-orbit launch systems
Human or robotic spacecraft
Experience with multidisciplinary design optimization using MATLAB, Python, and/or Julia.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative, small-team environment.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Must be eligible to obtain a DoD Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred
Familiarity with federal, military, and industry standards related to thermal design, testing, and analysis.
Experience with thermal-aerodynamic-structural interactions in supersonic and hypersonic flight environments.
Software development experience using Python, Java, MATLAB, C, and/or C++.
Experience supporting aerospace flight development programs such as:
UAVs
Missiles
CubeSats
Spacecraft
Knowledge of Monte Carlo analysis, uncertainty quantification, or risk analysis methodologies.
Previous experience working in a small-business engineering environment.

TRC Talent Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees and applicants are treated with dignity and respect.