Senior Thermal Engineer in Guildford

Joining the Thermal Engineering Team of a key client in the UK, the Senior Thermal Engineer is responsible for delivering spacecraft thermal control solutions across a range of missions, including LEO, GEO, and interplanetary programmes. Working within the Thermal Engineering team, the role focuses on the development, analysis, and delivery of Thermal Control Subsystems (TCS) across the full project lifecycle, ensuring performance, cost, and schedule objectives are achieved.

Responsibilities

• Lead thermal control subsystem activities across all project phases, including in-orbit support.
• Perform and oversee thermal analysis and design at system, subsystem, and unit levels.
• Capture and interpret requirements to develop effective thermal solutions.
• Conduct trade-off studies considering performance, risk, cost, and schedule.
• Define and implement thermal hardware and design solutions.
• Plan and support verification and test activities, including thermal vacuum testing.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance within the thermal discipline.
• Interface with internal engineering teams and external stakeholders.
• Manage subcontractors and deliver assigned work packages where required.
• Maintain high standards through technical reviews and quality assurance activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes and standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline (or equivalent vocational experience).

Essential skills

• Strong capability in thermal analysis and spacecraft thermal system design.
• Solid understanding of Thermal Control Subsystem principles and applications.
• Ability to deliver technical solutions across complex engineering programmes.
• Effective planning, organisation, and workload management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including technical reporting.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

Desired skills

• Experience with thermal analysis tools (e.g., Thermica, SINDA-G, ESATAN).
• Knowledge of active and passive thermal control hardware.
• Experience supporting thermal testing, including thermal vacuum environments.
• Familiarity working across multiple thermal modelling tools.

Experience

• Proven experience in spacecraft thermal engineering within the space industry.
• Track record of delivering thermal analysis and design activities across project lifecycles.
• Experience working at system level and interfacing with multiple engineering disciplines.
• Experience contributing to requirements definition, verification, and test activities.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges.
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects.
• Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses.
• Competitive company benefits.
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo.
• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
• Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible.
• Communicating and promoting vacancies.
• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.
• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required.
• Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive.