Thermal Design Engineer

Do you want to help a small company make a BIG difference in space? Do you take ownership of your job and responsibility for your actions? Then come work for Red Canyon and help us continue our mission of helping humankind reach the stars!

This role is responsible for thermal system design and analysis of complex spacecraft and payloads, spanning from the lowest level component up through sub‑system and full system levels. The position includes designing thermal solutions for a wide range of electronic components and ensuring thermal closure while meeting cost and schedule objectives.  

Red Canyon Engineering and Software: “Exploring Other Planets, Improving our Own”

Red Canyon contracts with NASA, NOAA, NREL, JPL, and DOD, in addition to customers such as Lockheed Martin Space, Raytheon, Sierra Space, a.i. solutions, Walt Disney Imagineering, SAIC, Sidus Space, Ball Aerospace, SpaceX, Honeywell, KBRwyle, Peraton, LASP, Maxar, Blue Origin, and Moog. We specialize in building spacecraft, developing renewable energy technologies to help make our planet a better world and cutting edge research and development. Our disciplines include embedded flight software, software testing, GN&C, systems engineering, mechanical design, structural analysis, real time flight and ground software, simulation software, user interface software, and mission management software. We help our contractors with the full life cycle of product development from requirements to test and delivery.

Some of the programs we have previously or currently worked on include: Human Lander System, Artemis I-II, WorldView Legion V, Perseverance Rover, InSight, GeoXO, Tranche-1, LizzieSat, Dream Chaser, Psyche, Mars 98, Odyssey 01, Stardust, Genesis and Deep Impact, Mars Phoenix, Joint Polar Satellite System, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Orion, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, GOES-R, OSIRIS-REx, Maven, JUNO, Grail, and the MarsFlight and LunarSIM Simulation.

Red Canyon’s home office is located in scenic Denver, Colorado, and our regional office, Launch Now, is in historic downtown Titusville, Florida. We are a small company that maintains a flat organization to decrease our overhead and costs to our customers. Our number one focus is to solve some of the most complicated engineering problems humankind is facing.

Does it sound like you want to join our mission?

Perform thermal system design and analysis for spacecraft and payloads across component, sub‑system, and space vehicle level. 

Design thermal integration of electronic components such as processors, power supplies, cameras, and optical assemblies at the sub‑system spacecraft bus and space vehicle level. 

Ensure thermal designs close properly and identify innovative technical means to meet thermal, cost, and schedule requirements. 

Perform FEM‑based thermal model analysis using Ansys Thermal Desktop. 

Develop preliminary concepts supporting early design activities through design V&V (verification & validation) and transition to rate production. 

Collaborate effectively across the team and cross-functional disciplines: avionics, mechanical, structural, program management, and AI&T teams with strong internal customer focus. 

Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant engineering or computation field plus 10-12 years, 
MS plus 8-10 years, or PhD plus 5-7 years of professional experience in thermal engineering positions.  

5+ years of professional working experience in the space, aerospace or other indsutry designing high reliability products.  

Experience with design tools and methods related to thermal engineering: Ansys Thermal Desktop, AutoCAD, DSS SolidWorks

Ability to perform mechanical engineering design tasks using SolidWorks, in addition to primary thermal engineering duties.  

Understanding of GD&T tools and methods.